John Schmidt

John J. Schmidt Sr., 60, Mandan, died January 24, 2013 at his home. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, with Monsignor Chad Gion officiating. Cremation has taken place and the family will greet friends two hours prior to the service at the funeral home on Tuesday. John was born February 6, 1952 in Mandan to Frank and Isabelle (Hatzenbuhler) Schmidt. Raised and educated in Center, he graduated from Center High School in 1970 and served 6 years in the Army Reserves. On September 12, 1974 he married Joyce Dillmann in Mandan. They made their home west of Mandan and shared 38 years together. John enjoyed the years he spent driving milk truck and always liked going fishing with family. An inventor and tinkerer, John loved to create things and was very handy. A talented wood craftsman, he built a beautiful dollhouse, bookcases, children’s table and chairs, cradle, and toy boxes for his family that they will always treasure. An appreciation for the outdoors, John could sit on his bench at home and listen and watch nature for hours. He had a soft spot for animals, especially cats. He always loved motorcycles and enjoyed riding his trike the past few years on his circle from Center to New Salem to the truck stop, and then home. He always had a radio on and each song had a meaning to him. His greatest pride and joy was his granddaughter, Julia, who’ll always remember watching Sponge Bob and Tom and Jerry with her Papa. An honest and caring man with a heart of gold, John will forever be remembered by those who knew and loved him. His passing leaves an emptiness that only love and happy memories can fill. Blessed to have shared his life is his wife, Joyce Schmidt; son, Sonny Schmidt (girlfriend, Tara Skjeie); daughter, Jennifer (Jamie) Reinholt, all of Mandan; grandchildren, Julia and Brenden; brother, Larry (Ginger) Schmidt, Center; sisters, Julie (Donald) Osadchy, Max and Renae (James) Schenatzki, Mandan; many nieces and nephews and Joyce’s extended family; and special friend, Dale Kraft, Mandan. John was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Bobbie Jo Schmidt; and in-laws, Donna and Dale Gullickson and Jack Dillmann.