JOHN SCHMIDT

John G. Schmidt Jan 18, 1935 - June 21, 2012 Johann George Schmidt was born January 19, 1935 in Ashley, North Dakota to Edwin and Helen Kramer Schmidt. He left us on June 21, 2012 in Reno, at SMRMC, after a valiant fight with multiple critical health issues. His family moved to Lodi when he was a young boy. He graduated from San Francisco State with a BA in physical education, the first in his family to complete college. As president of his fraternity, he worked tirelessly to ensure that a ban on hazing was instituted. He excelled at sports, and was a star pitcher and quarterback throughout high school and college. John served in the National Guard. John was the manager of Quarts and Pints liquor store on Noriega Street in the 1960s. He then moved to Reno and owned, managed and bartended at many cocktail lounges in the area for over 25 years. In the late 1980s he went to work at Blue Ribbon Meat and then for Cal Vada Sales, from which he reluctantly retired in December of 2006 due to his declining health. He never forgot the kindness and affection of his co-workers at Cal Vada. An ardent Giants and Niners fan, Johnny never heard an Elvis Presley song without relishing it. He was a scratch bowler and competed in league play for many years. At 55 he decided to learn to ride horses (probably so he could see his wife on the weekends) and became a successful competitor in local and regional shows, especially with his favorite mount, Nick-A-Hand. The two were a perfect match; both were kind and patient and conscientious. The pinnacle of his horse show experience, under the guidance of Shirley Koch and Eddie Lehman, was KPM Lotsa Khrrome, being named top ten Arabian sport horse mare in hand at the 2004 Arabian Sport Horse Nationals held in Rancho Murietta. Johnny was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Ervin, Ruben and Enoch Schmidt. He is survived by his wife Laurie, daughter Laura Torres of Santa Clara, son Brad Schmidt and Brad's fiance Fabienne Grandamy of Prague Czech Republic, stepdaughter Amanda Cowan of Henderson, stepson Jeffery Jason of Georgia, grandchildren Robby and Allison Cowan and Justin Anderson, and great-grandson Ashton Anderson all of Henderson, and his former wife and the mother of his children, Arlene Hales of Foster City. He is also survived by his sisters, LaVina Meier, Alma Martin, Vera Nomura and Vivian Gwyn and brother Roy Schmidt, all of northern California, as well as many nieces and nephews. Alma's loyalty and kindness and her many visits over the past few years are deeply appreciated. We would also like to thank Doctors Robert Swackhamer, George Sieffert, Bruce Ford, as well as all of the staff at Pulmonary Medicine Associates, for their kindness and skill in making Johnny's last years as pleasant as possible despite his ill health. A celebration of his life is planned for September. Should you wish to remember him, a donation to the John Giannoni Scholarship Foundation, 2960 Applewood Drive, Lodi, CA 95242 would have pleased him very much. May God bless you, Miracle Man