Joshua "Josh" Schmidt

Hey Josh. It has been years. What can I say? I miss you...memories of you drift into my world at odd moments...like the night a group of people hung out on a hill by your house in Afton. It was one of those nights that feels like a dream. It was summer...possibly the summer of 88 or 89 or 90...one of those. warm-but-cool July nights when you could sleep outdoors in Minnesota. There was a steady breeze that swept over a hill covered with knee-high grass. The wind swooshed and spilled over the grass like a stadium audience. It was intoxicating. At some point someone turned off some flashlight or lantern (or ran out of batteries) and the night sky showed up with stars. It seemed like we could see for miles around from our spot on a high hill. What I remember most is the gentle strength of the warm-but-goosebumpy wind, the swish of the grass around us. This moving image is like a whale in my memory banks that comes up for air every once in an unpredictable while, and I don't know why it is such a potent memory, but if I guessed it is because it was a kind of timelessness. Yes, it was a time before the internet and cellphones and all...and it was also a simple unmeasured time where a small and motley group of young folks...including your older sister and her friends...gathered on a country hill at night and just hung out for no particular reason or purpose...outside...under a night sky...in the world-within-a-world of Afton. It would have sounded corny to say to you when you were with us, but since you are no longer with us I am grateful to you for giving me experiences that haunt me in the best possible ways.

Man, I still think of you every time I come up on a red light, or when I hear weird Krishna Hardcore bands,or in a million other circumstances.
I don't know how all these years have already flown by and how different everything is,and yet how some crap hasn't changed.
Who'd of every thought I'd use you as an example to my kids?
Shhhh....

I'm sorry i havent come to see you, but know that i take a little bit of you with me wherever i go. I was just thinking about the time we went to the flower store and ate ham sandwiches. Ok, it wasn't a flower store!

Hi Josh, I was just thinking about watching The Adventures of Baron Munchausen with you at the Uptown Theater. It was the night I fell in love with Uma Thurman! Hope all's well, dude. Just thinking about you.

missin you always. that one son is now three sons that u wont be meeting. they would have loved you tho. i think about you daily, old friend. xxoo

Hey Josh, can you believe it?! It's the end of 2011, man! Still miss you. I'm craving hearing you do Trudy the bag lady: "Rrrreality is nothing...but a collective hunch....". Just thought I'd let you know.

Josh, its mo-mo, we spent some really good times in Germany together..... I am going to miss you man. Hope you find your place in heaven, you deserve it! luv ya buddie

ahhhhh. i dont even know what to say. you were such a sweet friend to me and to ray.i miss you still.i think about you every day. you never got to meet my new baby. he was 8 days old the day you left us.he's three years old now.i cant possibly express in words how much i loved you.

Hey Josh,

Wow, it's been a few years since you've been gone. We lost touch, but I always will remember hanging out with you and Chad in San Francisco as some of the craziest and freakiest times I ever had with ANYBODY. You and your trickster nature kept me from being too serious even though I sometimes saw the serious side of you. I loved setting up satellite dishes in the Wisconsin boondocks and driving 100mph down back roads...I can't believe we made it out alive...wish we could have had another beer at the Viking Bar or the Cardinal or wherever. I miss you and tell my kids stories about the wide spectrum of weirdnesses you and I got mixed up with...Peace.

"We'll meet again when hills are green in another time and place..."

Josh,

It's almost benn a year since you were taken away from us. And not a single day has gone by that I haven't thought about you. So much has happened. And so much is happening that we could really use your uniqe out look on things to help us deal. It makes me miss you even more.

Everyday I think of you. We did things together only true brothers do. It's not easy to say goodbye when I know that you will always be with me and the rest of the crew. Although we can't speak, I still catch myself talking to you. We will hang-out together again but you'll have to give me 15 minutes. Love you always Bro.



P.S. FUNNY HUH, you won.

Dear Josh,

When I got the call do you want to go to mexico? I was kind of ticked that two other people were joining. But then I met them: You being one and Larry the other, I will forever be greatful for the brief time we shared, our friendship will always be there. Saturday the words you spoke to me will forever be on my mind. The words of wisdom that came from your soul were the reasons I have made the changes I have. You will always be my friend. I miss you.

Love Les

Josh, we have so many good memories of you. You were our first "son-in-law" so to speak. We always enjoyed your wonderful sense of humor, your calming influence on our daughter Barbi. We were sad that that relationship ended, but not all survive the ups and downs life has to offer. We felt you were a reliable protector to Barbi and always glad she was with you in that big city of S. Mpls. We are just having trouble accepting that you have gone on before us. Don't you realize us old folks are supposed to go first?? You will be in our hearts and memories until that time when we will be seeing you again. Our hearts go out to you, too, Roxanne. Know that we pray for you to find some comfort in your sorrow.



Love, Nancy and Bill Meyer

The first time I saw Josh, as a Premie, was at Childrens Hospital...30 years ago.



The kid had a presence, as his sister describes, "a powerful life force". From his first day of life he made that presence known.



Loving, funny, strong as well as sensitive & sweet and for his auntie (very calming) at times and others...oh my goodness! I loved him from day one for no other reason that he was our Josh...



He will live in my heart forever.

Josh - We go so far back, I can't really remember a time when you weren't somewhere in my life. I still remember you as the cute 5th grader with the red glasses. You stood out. In my eyes, you have always stood out. I still can't believe that you aren't here anymore. You will always be special to me. Few people have moved me the way you have. No matter the distance between us, I always knew eventually we'd find each other again. As we always had. I promise I will remember every single detail about you ... Your crazy humor. Your wit. Your grace. Your endless charm. Your smile. Especially your love and friendship. Thank you. You were beyond exceptional. I trust that you are somewhere orbiting around everyone who loves you. And yes, I can hear you making fun of me now for saying that. You wonderthing. You beautiful human being. I will always miss you, Josh.

Josh,

I loved you so much. Even though it has been years since we were close, you will always have a special place in my heart. I feel so grateful for the time I had with you and forever indebted to you for the things you taught me. You gave so generously of yourself. It breaks my heart to know I'll never see you again. I will never forget you.

Love ,

Toby Simonson

Roxanne, we are truly sorry for the loss of you son. Our prayers are with you.

Josh-you were like a part of our family. We've been through so many good times and bad times together - I just can't believe you're gone. I feel like I've lost my brother.

Josh - I remember playing at your house in Afton so many times when I was a kid (mostly with Pascha but you were always there too). I even babysat you a few times. I remember when you were little, you used to talk really fast and hyper and say, "hey, hey, hey...." You were a tough little kid - if you banged yourself up, you just kept on playing.



Say "Hi" to Grandma, Grandpa and Tom for me.



Love, Your Cousin, Missy

Josh -



Over the years you and I drifted apart, mostly because I moved around too much. But every year you would manage to track me down and call me on my birthday. Those birthday conversations always meant so much, and reminded me that, despite the distance, you remained a true friend. You will always be a very special person to me. I can’t believe you are gone. I will miss you.

Josh I will miss you,you will be forever in my heart as will your mom.

Josh - although we lost touch over the last few years I have to say you were the best friend I ever had. I've been thinking about all the goofy things we used to do and how we were so close we would finish each other's sentences. You were by far the funniest person I've ever met in my life. I remember so many times being in pain because of how hard you were making me laugh. Even though we stopped hanging out I still always tell people stories about you. The Rygmer Foods and Little Caesar's stories have become legendary. Even though you were a little younger than me, I always looked up to you and wanted to be like you. I miss you man - it wasn't supposed to be like this. We were supposed to start hanging out again and do something like open a pizza place with Jimbo. Then we would mess with all the customers. I know if you can read this you will want me to say something shockingly inappropriate, but I better not. This is really tough to write, it makes it seem more real that you're gone. My eyes are filling with tears while I'm typing this remembering all of the stuff we did. Goodbye Josh - I love you man

I never met Joshua, I just wish him a peacful journey and his family all the strength they need.

I am so sorry for your loss.

i had not spoken with josh in many years. he will be missed. my condolences to his family.

To forever my cousin Joshua,



I fondly remember us growing up together. Me following you around as I was your younger little cousin and you were my big older cousin/brother that I always looked up to. From when the times that I would tag along and fish with you and your father-Dan to when you both would take special time with me and help me feel like there was always someone there-when I was lonely and just did'nt feel like anyone cared. I remember vividly when I was growing up around ten or eleven years old, how we would go skate boarding and I so much wanted to grow up to be like you.

As life went on and we grew older and grew farther apart my love for you grew stronger and its hard because your loss is a major loss to my heart.

I will miss you forever....

Your Loving cousin

Sam

You are forever in our hearts and will be sorely missed.