Name: Calling hours for John J. Schmalbach
Start: 2024-01-30T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2024-01-31T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Brookfield Funeral Home

John J. Schmalbach
Brookfield – John J. Schmalbach, age 75, of Brookfield passed away on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at Danbury Hospital.
John was born July 3, 1948 in New York, New York. He was the loving son of the late John and Emilie (Kricher) Schmalbach. He worked as a maintenance worker at Flagship Converters, was a history buff, a motorcycle enthusiast and loved the open road. Although being of German descent, he had a profound love for being Italian through Nonna Toni's cooking.
John is not survived by any children or siblings but is survived by his dear friends who he considered as his family and who loved him as their own: Tracy Sebouhian and her husband Marc of Southbury, Anthony Rutledge and his wife Valerie of Southbury, Edward Rutledge and his wife Rosella of Brewster, NY and Edward Rutledge and his wife Toni of Southbury. John considered their children: Antonia and Avianna Sebouhian, Patrick Rutledge and Matthew and Justin Rutledge to be his nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his closest friends: Claudio, Dave and Greg and many other dear friends
John was predeceased by his nephew Ryan Rutledge with whom he shared a very special bond and who was waiting for him to share a very special place with.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, January 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Road Brookfield. A Celebration of John's Life will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery in New Milford in the Spring.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Danbury News Times on Jan. 26, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for John Schmalbach

Sponsored by Cornell Memorial Funeral Home.

20 Entries

Carolyn Berry

April 9, 2024

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 kind, caring, interesting and eccentric friend who I will miss dearly.

Donald Fleming

February 22, 2024

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 on the open road of New England to escape encroaching suburbia. We had less contact after I moved to Europe, but we stayed in touch. I admired and appreciated that he remained devoted to his mother and her care. I'm glad, especially now, I got to see more of him these last few years. His strength of character, his vitality, his intelligence, quick-wittedness, his independence, and his idiosyncracies, always did and always will inspire me. John was a good guy.

Jill Fleming and Family

Planted Trees

Jill Fleming

February 10, 2024

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

CHARLES CALDWELL

February 2, 2024

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

Gina A

February 1, 2024

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

russ wabuda

January 31, 2024

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.

Edward Gay

January 31, 2024

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.

Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Degenhardt

Planted Trees

MELISSA SCHIPUL

January 29, 2024

I am so sorry to hear of John's passing. He was a unique and kind person, devoted to his mom. A sparkle in his eyes. My condolences to his dear friends in their loss of John.

bruce hoffmann

January 29, 2024

I´ve known Johnny since I was eight years old I lived next door in 1963 he was 8 years older than me but what a great neighbor if you needed air in your bicycle tires or chain fixed he was their to help out. When I was 13 he gave me a sears whizzer motor bike he said he was never going to get it fixed I never got it fixed either. Every time I ran into him the first thing he asked is how is your mom. He will be missed and his mother too. RIP Johnny your friend Bruce Hoffmann

Barbara Muller

January 28, 2024

John worked at my Dads business for a while back in the early 70,s. I remember his long pony tail, motorcycle, muscles and his very kind demeanor. He was a unique and special person.

David Rousseau

January 28, 2024

John was a great friend, loved motorcycles, cars, anything old, history,. He was awesome to talk with always had great memories to share, I really enjoyed hanging out with my good friend, he seemed to know the history of everything, he I liked going to swap meets with him, he always had so much knowledge to share, he loved his old vehicles, didn't like anything new. I really miss my Buddy already, so sad, seemed like he new everyone, everyone liked John great dude, he was very proud of his German heritage. I know he always talked about Tracy and Mark they were very special
to him they were his family and their kids to. Jesus bless you my friend, you are at peace with your parents and family in heaven Bro. RIP John, great memories

Doris Dunning

January 27, 2024

I lived next door to John and his mother in the 60´s and 70´s. He was so nice and so handsome. I´ll never forget him giving me a ride home from the bus stop in his corvette. I thought about that for years, haha. Thank you loving friends for a lovely obituary about John.

Kathleen Schirmer Wildman

January 27, 2024

So sad that Immaculate High School class of 1966 has lost another classmate. John, may you rest in peace.

Tiffany Pelletier

January 25, 2024

Uncle John has been in my life ever since I was born . I am the daughter of Dayton, his best friend . I remember driving to gun shows with my dad and Uncle John . We shared most holidays together and he bought us the coolest treasured gifts which I still have on my dresser till this day ! One being a miniature bunny. The only thing about Uncle John that has changed over the years has been his hair color. He is known for his flannel shirts, muscles, jeans, pony tail, and his famous belt buckles! My heart is broken I won´t see him at another family gathering. He will be greatly missed. He was our family and will always be my Uncle John.

Carissa Jon Thomas

January 25, 2024

Uncle John was loved and will be greatly missed. He was my Godfather and I am named after him. My kids will always remember how well he hid the 200 eggs at our annual Easter egg hunt. He had a wealth of knowledge and had the best conversations at family gatherings. Even though he was motorcycles, cars, belt buckles and flannels; I still have the beautiful glass Italian bead necklace he made for me. He never seemed to change or age.
~Carissa Jon Thomas

Cindy Thomas Lowe

January 25, 2024

Dayton Thomas

January 25, 2024

This is Dayton Thomas. John and I started working together around 1974. He is the Godfather to my daughters and my best man at my wedding. And part of my family ever since.

Julie Anderson

January 25, 2024

My first memory of John iwas during a really bad snow storm and he got snowed in at our house. It may have been the blizzard of 1978. We stayed up for hours playing Risk. He had been part of our Family ever since. Every family party, every holiday he spent with us for as long as I can remember. He was a big brother to me. Always part of my family. He will be missed dearly. We are all so sad. We lost a very close family member.

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