John J. Schmalbach

This is a picture of one of his antique cars stored in my side yard. John was going to restore it. So funny! I loved laughing with him, he had a great sense of humor. Though I didn´t know him well until a few years ago, he became a good friend, always there to help with the heavy lifting. I watched him care for his mother as she declined, he gave selflessly of his time when our mutual friend Pat was in a nursing home, and when Pat died he called me every week to check on me. He was a...

As a kid, I spent many a weekend at my Aunt Mimi and cousin John's place in Hickory Hills. Used to drive up from the city with my grandparents, his Aunt Helen and Uncle Joe (Roman), with whom he had a special bond. His father Jack taught me how to swim in Candlewood Lake. John was always coming and going with one of the many vehicles he'd been working on (I learned a lot of curse words!). Sometimes, I could nab a spin on his motorcycle or a ride down to the beach....before he'd head out again...

I remember going to the countryside to visit Aunt Mimi and cousin Johnny with my grandparents while growing up. John was usually in the garage working on a car or motorcycle and occasionally would shot out in frustration. We had fun playing pachisi and card games. I loved going for a ride on the back of his motorcycle or in the pick up truck to flea markets. He was a real character. John loved history and all things antique. He will be missed by his family. Jill

JOHN ,Gave me a full tour in 2006 of his home to me motorcycles, cars Old tools all over and the old safes in the stone wall in the back yard.He was a good friend of my brother Louie Harley stuff me Indain suff I would see him at the antique fairs very cool man,,Sorry is gone charlie

John and his mom Mimmy were neighbors for many years . His mom babysat us often. John was much older than me but I always remember him zooming by either in his VW Bugs or motorcycle . He was always a very quiet guy. I always thought he was the coolest hippy on the block . I was sad to see another old great neighbor has passed. RIP JOHNNY

i feel a big loss. i think i am more sad for myself than i am john because i know how much i'm going to miss him. we shared a great passion for old cars and saw each other at that type of event. rest in peace.

RIP brother. Went to IHS class of ´66 with John. He lived 5 minutes away from where I lived. We hung out quite a bit back in the day. I think I sold John his first Harley motorcycle in ´64, he loved motorcycles. I moved to SC and we kept in touch through out the years. John and I were talking on Dec 28 of last year, he sounded good and we were recalling past experiences. I will miss you John.