Obituary of John Hans Schmidt

John Hans Schmidt, age 98, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 13, 2024.  He was born in Romania on November 12, 1925.  He died at home during a short illness, surrounded by his family.

John, his wife and two older children moved to Woodstock from Edingen, Germany in 1953.  Despite not being able to speak English, he still found work to support his family thanks to many neighbors in Woodstock Valley who were helpful to him.  His first full time employment was as a maintenance worker at Annhurst College.  In the mid-1960’s he began employment as a maintenance employee at “The Jungle” at University of Connecticut, Storrs.  He worked his way up to maintenance supervisor and retired after more than 20 years of service. 

While employed at UConn, John started his John’s Floor Cleaning Service.  He built this business and, due to the quality of his work and his honesty, ultimately was cleaning many businesses and homes in Putnam and nearby towns.  After his retirement from UConn, he also started a busy shoe repair business which he continued for many years.  He had learned shoe repair from his brother-in-law while visiting in Germany one year.

John enjoyed both candlepin and ten pin bowling.  He won many bowling trophies as a member of bowling leagues.  His mottos were “follow through!” and “don’t twist your wrist!”  He had a wood working shop where he made quality furniture for his family.   He loved to feed the birds, including crows and red tail hawks, and the fish in their pond.  He took excellent care of Billy the Rooster, a handsome Rhode Island Red, who showed up on their property one year.  John was predeceased by Billy. 

John attended Eastford Baptist Church in his younger years.  In his later years, he was a regular attendee of Church of the Good Shepherd in West Woodstock. 

John is survived by his loving wife, Elisabeth, and by their four children, Roland, Evelyn, Heidi, and Michael Schmidt.  He is dearly missed by his loving family and his friends and by his cat, Shadow.

No memorial service is planned at this time.  In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Church of the Good Shepherd or Bungee Fire Department. Share a memory at www.smithandwalkerfh.com