Joseph Valentine Schmidt Jr.

Joseph Valentine Schmidt, Jr., passed away on Dec. 15, 2009 at Akron City Hospital.

He was born in Randolph Ohio on December 29, 1920 and had lived in the Brimfield-Rootstown area for the past 50 years. Joe was truly 88 years young. In Joe's long and wonderful life, he developed many talents and his experiences were plentiful. He grew up on a farm in East Liberty, and later attending Akron's Garfield High School he was involved in football and track. As a young man he traveled the Western United States while serving in the Civilian Conservation Corp, and later served in the United States Navy as a pharmacist mate in World War II until honorably discharged in 1945. He then began his lifelong career as a bricklayer affiliated with Bricklayer's Local #7 as a commercial bricklayer, and as bricklaying apprentice instructor associated with Akron School's Vocational Programs. Twenty years ago, Joe finally retired as an Ohio Vocational-Apprentice regional supervisor for the Veterans Administration. Joe enjoyed many hobbies throughout his lifetime including stamp and coin collecting, photography, painting, calligraphy, helped to co-develop and support a line of nationally recognized AKC Champion miniature dachshunds with his wife Gloria. He loved to travel, read, collect pottery, went to endless yard sales, but his favorite hobby of all was FISHING. Attributes recognized and appreciated by Joe's friends and family alike were his sense of humor, his outgoing friendliness, his courage and compassion, his outstanding patience--but most importantly Joe's limitless love for his family. Joe's greatest love of all was his adored wife of 63 years, Gloria, who passed away in 2005.

He will be sadly missed by his children, Dawn (Clark) Hosick of West Akron, Aurora (Tom) Stewart of Rootstown, Eric (Kathleen) Schmidt of Hartville, and Chris Schmidt of Longmont Colorado. Grandchildren include Nathan Barnhart, Kirsten Fleischer, Ian Stewart, Kyle Stewart, Eve Baker, Rory Schmidt, Erika Schmidt, Maggie Schmidt and great-grandchildren Shawn, Lily, Jacob, Emory and Emma.

A memorial Mass will be held at St. Hilary Parish, 2750 West Market Street in Fairlawn on Saturday December 19, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. A reception to greet Joe's family and friends will be held at St. Hilary's at 11 a.m. following the Mass.