John Schmitt

John C. "Jack" Schmitt, Jr., 86, Army Veteran of the Korean War, passed away January 10, 2018. He was raised in Chicago, Illinois by his parents, John C. Schmitt, Sr. and Christine (Manz) Schmitt.

Jack is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Angela; daughter, Christie; son, Thomas, James; brother-in-law, Philip Bonaparte and his wife Agnes; and fond uncle of many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by brother Edward and sisters Jeanette (Scudder) and Joan.

Interment will be held on Monday, January 22, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Shelter "B". Please arrive to Staging Area "B" at, or prior to 11:15 a.m. Military Honors will be rendered by the United States Army...

At 2:30 p.m., a Memorial Mass will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 8035 S. Quebec Street.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in his name.

Below is a brief summary of his life. Please share memories of Jack and condolences with his family in the guestbook.

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Jack was born in Chicago, Illinois and was the third of four children. Jack was spoiled as a child since he had double pneumonia as an infant and doctors did not think he would survive, which is why he was the only sibling with a formal baby picture. He was spoiled once again when he attended St. Augustine School as one of only 7 boys in the class...and the girls seemed to take a liking to him. His favorite subject was history.

When Jack was young, he shoveled coal for 10 cents a day and had a paper route. As a child living in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, Jack would ride his bike out to Midway airport and watch the planes take off.

In the years after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the US Army, serving in Korea. He was a supply sergeant for the 7th Infantry Division of the 48th Field Artillery and thus had many friends. He received the Korean Service Medal 1-W, three Bronze Campaign Stars, a United Nations Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), and a National Defense Service Medal.

Jack majored in Business Administration in college and worked part-time for a painting and decorating company before eventually branching out on his own.

Jack was an excellent dancer, specializing in swing, jitterbug, and the cha-cha, always loving music with a beat. He met Angela at a dance in 1955 and they fell in love, married the following year and honeymooned in Havana, Cuba. Over the years they enjoyed many dances together. In 1959 they started a family and built a home in the southern suburbs.

In 1970, following Jack's back surgery, with both children of school age, the family moved to Gulfport, Florida, which was closer to Angela's parents. Jack thrived with the warmer weather and his painting business flourished, yet he felt the need to diversify and do anything to get out of the mundane weekend task of mowing the lawn. Always looking for a new and exciting endeavor, he became interested in nutrition and healthy cleaning products in his spare time. Another move, to nearby Seminole, Florida would bring in 1979. Jack found a local flea market that would be a useful outlet for demonstrating his cleaning products. By the early 1980s, the children moved to Colorado to attend school. The summer after his son graduated from high school, Jack's children helped him prepare individual condominium units in preparation for painting. The following summers, Jack and Angela visited their kids, where all four enjoyed vacations of the western US. This was the time when one of the condominium complex residents introduced Jack to the wholesale jewelry business. He returned to the flea market to demonstrate how well the cleaning products would make the jewelry shine. After selling a piece of jewelry and making a profit, he purchased more trinkets, eventually channelling all of his attention to that industry on his days off. Jack found dealing with the public refreshing after decades of painting with only talk radio for company. Jack's side business expanded and with successful marketing, lead to gift and collectibles stores in Bradenton, Florida. His son returned from Colorado to help modernize and expand the family business. Wanting to live closer to the store, Jack and Angela built a home in Sarasota, so that Jack could be at the store more to greet and talk with customers.

Late in 2005, after retiring from over 50 years of painting, Jack suffered a massive stroke.and was placed in a nursing home. Eventually, the family chose to liquidate the giftware company, relocating to be near their daughter in Colorado, with an opportunity for improved nursing home care for Jack. It would be Jack's final long-distance trip. The family was grateful to have visited many places before his health was challenged. Locations included most of the US, including Alaska and Hawaii, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Morocco, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Although unable to talk, Jack understood everything and with his eyes and animation, enjoyed conversations, and would lead singing "Happy Birthday" to any resident or family member. His love of travel caused him to react to planes overhead, trains, and vehicles on the road; everything from a Walmart or garbage truck to a luxury sedan. He participated in outings and attended baseball games, played Bingo and Poker, and watched the news channels. Eventually, Jack's circulation and existing gout issue worsened, and he was placed in hospice care. With help from the podiatrists at the Denver Departement of Veterans Affairs, Jack graduated out of hospice. Two years later, Jack's older sister became ill after she moved to Colorado and was placed in a Parker nursing home; Jack was moved to the same facility so he could be with her during her last days. After she passed, his gout issue worsened, leading to a leg amputation. Following the surgery, Jack moved to the Someren Glen nursing home in Centennial.

With his usual charisma, Jack became a staple at the new facility. He attended Catholic services with the St. Thomas More vounteers, always mouthing prayers. He loved watching sports and became a Broncos and Rockies fan. Life became more difficult during the later years and eventually, Jack began winding down. Placed in hospice care for only a day, Jack gave his family comforting signs of peace, was alert and accepting with goodbyes, and quietly passed on. In life, when he entered a room, he had a presence that could never be forgotten. He will be greatly missed by all.