John "Jack" Schmidt Jr.

John “Jack” Schmidt, Jr. May 12, 1933 to November 26, 2018. John “Jack” Edward Schmidt, Jr. passed away quietly and contentedly in his home of 42 years in Berwyn with his cherished wife Lois Ann at his side. Jack was the consummate son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, engineer and manager. Born a Mother’s Day gift in 1933, he is reunited in heaven with his mother Olga and his father John, his younger brothers Chuck who departed 2008, and Donald (who passed away as an infant many years ago, never forgotten). He is survived by his dear sisters Donna, Jean, and Marcia. He is also survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Lois; his beloved children, Grace, John and Joan, and seven loving grandchildren; by lifelong friends “Uncle Roy” "Aunt Patty” and their family; and many other cherished family and friends. After earning an engineering degree at Case Institute of Technology (now Case-Western Reserve), Jack took his first job with his lifetime employer, FMC Corporation, at the chemical plant in Charleston, West Virginia. Like the other young engineers, he lived frugally in a local boarding house. He often told the story of how he spent his first paycheck on a wristwatch and an alarm clock so that he would never be late for work. He never was. At FMC in Charleston, he met his lifelong friend, and close co-worker, Roy Roseberry. Jack and Roy - two young engineers from out of town - ventured out from time to time to a local church to play volleyball and meet girls - but mainly to play volleyball. At the same time, Jack’s future wife, Lois, journeyed from Grassy Meadows WV to the big City of Charleston at age 17. There she met her lifelong friend Patty. Lois and Patty, two young girls from the country, would venture out to a local church from time to time to play volleyball, and meet young men. But mainly to play volleyball. One day, while intently focusing on volleyball, Jack met Lois, and Roy met Patty. The rest was history. Jack was passionate about his work but was not consumed by it. Jack’s work took him everywhere, but he always managed to come home with candy and goodies for his kids and his wife. He rose through the ranks at FMC, starting as knob twister and dial turner, to become Director of Environmental Planning, worldwide. Jack’s job took he and his family to Westport, Connecticut, Pocatello, Idaho, back to Westport, and finally to Philadelphia. It seemed a little coincidental that every time Jack and Lois moved to a new area, their lifelong friends Roy and Patty Roseberry were either there already or were about to move there very shortly. The couples and families remained close and lived within a few miles of each other throughout Jack’s life. It was a blessing of lifelong friendship that few enjoy. Jack and Lois built a close and loving family, with daughters Grace and Joan, and son John. He was blessed to walk his daughters down the aisle in marriage to wonderful men he would also call sons, Bill Piccolo and Matt MacGregor. And through John’s marriage to Julie, Jack gained another loving daughter. He and Lois were blessed with grandchildren galore - Tom, Dave, and Mike Piccolo and Graham, Michael Ann, Jay and Leah Schmidt. Jack had retired at the top of his game to a life of leisure: no planes or trains to catch, nor deadlines to meet. He lent the watch he bought with his first check to his son John. From then on, he and Lois spent many weeks each year traveling to the beach in South Carolina to visit family, to Cleveland to visit family, to Connecticut, Seattle, Chicago, and Indiana to visit family, and quite often to West Virginia ... to visit family. It wasn’t hard to discern his priorities. Jack loved baseball and all the “inferior” sports as well. He could fix anything. And he always did. He remained active and charitable in his church and his community. He never missed weekly Mass or any Holy Days. He was known to check his watch carefully to ensure that each sermon was handled in a timely manner for the benefit of the parish as a whole. He was energized to support his church and "his kids” through Missions in the Philippines and in inner city Philadelphia. Jack did everything on time. His five o’clock cocktail was used to set worldwide atomic clocks. He stayed strong, and on time, to enjoy a last Thanksgiving visit at home from his children and grandchildren, and to enjoy his 61st wedding anniversary to his dearest Lois just three days before he passed away. He trusted in Jesus’ grace from the time he was a boy, and can be found with Him today, patiently awaiting the rest of his family. A Mass in honor of Jack will be held (with a carefully timed homily) on Monday, December 3, 2018 at 10am at St. Issac Jogues Catholic Church, 50 W. Walker Road, Wayne Pa. His remains will be buried among family in West Virginia, almost heaven. Those who wish to make memorial donations may offer them to Catholic Charities, https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org. Family, friends and visitors will be received at the church and at McKenzie Brew House in Devon, Pa., located in Valley Fair Shopping Center on Rt 252, https://www.mckenziebrewhouse.com/locations/devon/. Don’t be late.

John "Jack" Schmidt Jr.

May 12, 1933 - November 26, 2018