John K. Schmidt DDS, 78 of Sherrard, passed away on Saturday, December 10, 2022. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, December 17, at First Lutheran Church, 3117 175th Ave., Sherrard. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, at the church. Burial with military honors will be in Sherrard Cemetery. Memorials may be made in care of the Mercer County Animal Shelter.
John was born on February 15, 1944, a son of Russell and Helen (Radke) Schmidt. He graduated from Rock Island High School in 1962 and then went on to Augustana College, where he was a member of Rho Nu Delta. He also was a member of the swim team at both RIHS and Augustana. John received his DDS from the University of Illinois School of Dentistry in 1969. While in dental school, he married the love of his life, Barbara Peplow, on June 17, 1967 in Chicago. After getting his doctorate, he enlisted in the Army and served in the dental corp of the 101st Airborne at Camp Eagle during the Vietnam war.
John was a member of First Lutheran Church in Sherrard, where he served on the church council and was a part of the choir. He was also a longtime member of the Milan area Rotary Club.
Over the years John was very active and had many hobbies including; downhill skiing in the Rocky Mountains, riding and jumping horses, planting trees, painting with water colors, canoeing, and backpacking the Appalachian Trial through the Smokie Mountains. Although, his greatest joy in life came from being a Boy Scout leader and from raising and showing dogs. He enjoyed mentoring young men through Boy Scouts by teaching them life and survival skills, as well as taking them on trips, such as going to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He was a member of the Quad City Dog Obedience Club, various Collie clubs, and started a local Irish Setter Club. John’s greatest achievement in dog showing was when his Collie received its utility dog certification.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Barbara Schmidt, Sherrard; two sons, Tim (Jocelyn) Schmidt, Aledo, TX, and Ted (Cara) Schmidt, Rochester, MN; grandchildren, Garrett, Zaine, Madeleine, Olivia, and Julia Schmidt; and siblings, Linda Ales, Peter (Lynn) Schmidt, and Jeffrey Schmidt.
He was preceded in death by his parents and infant sister, Mary Beth.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.wheelanpressly.com.