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John N. Schmitz Panama City Beach, FL QCWA # 35262 |
John Schmitz passed away on Tuesday October 1, 2019 at the age of 73 in Panama City Beach FL. He is survived by his wife, Sue Schmitz, his three sons, Davis (Shawna), Jonathan (Cyndi), and Matthew (Amy) and his two sisters, Cindy Schmitz and Becky McKenzie. John is also remembered by his eight precious grandchildren, Carter (18), Olivia (18), John Michael (15), Anderson (14), Laurel (12), Wilson (11), Hollis (4), and Hughes (4). All of his grandchildren are incredibly smart and good-looking just like their Papa.
John was the son of Methodist missionaries, John Sr. and Wanda, and spent his early years in Christian service until he moved to Huntsville in 1961. He was a 1964 graduate of Lee High School.
He met his wife, Sue, at First United Methodist Church in Huntsville where he was a member for over 50 years until he and Sue moved to Florida where they joined Point Washington United Methodist Church in Santa Rosa Beach, FL.
John served four and half years in the United States Navy and twenty-five years in the US Navy Reserves. He retired in 1995 as a Sr. Chief Petty Officer.
John worked over 25 years as a Unit Operator for the Tennessee Valley Authority at Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant where he was the third Unit Operator ever hired at Browns Ferry.
John dedicated his life to many endeavors. He volunteered his time to the American Legion, the Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW), the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
John was also a devoted Amateur Radio Operator, call sign WB4JDN. He was a former Scoutmaster for Troop 86 of the Boy Scouts of America where he was proud to say he earned his Eagle Scout badge three times, once each with his sons.
John's newest passion was the Point Washington Medical Clinic in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. The clinic is a volunteer driven medical clinic providing the highest-quality healthcare to the community regardless of their ability to pay. He began to serve as a volunteer translator for the Spanish speaking patients but quickly grew into more where he served as translator, greeter, hospitality sharer, storyteller, and friend to all. John was always willing to lend a helping hand to any and all that needed him. He never met a political campaign that he couldn't help or a conversation he couldn't join.
With a cup of coffee in hand he was a friend to all.
As he always said when he signed off the radio "W-B-4-J-D-N World's Best 4 Just Doin' Nothin'."
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to the John Schmitz Memorial Fund at the Point Washington Medical Clinic. PWMC 1290 N. County Highway 395 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 or online at thepwmc.org/johnschmitzmemorialfund.
Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Sunday at Laughlin Service Funeral Home.
The funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. (www.laughlinservice.com)
Any veterans are encouraged to wear their uniforms.
Published in The Huntsville Times on Oct. 4, 2019