James Joseph Schmidt
James Joseph Schmidt was a singularly interesting guy.
He passed away peacefully on December 29, 2024, surrounded by family. He was 70 years old.
Jim was born February 8, 1954 to Fred and Rita (Kettenbach) Schmidt in North St. Louis County, Missouri. He was the second of seven children: younger brother to Bob (Kathy) Schmidt, and older brother to Fred (Geri) Schmidt, Dave (Laura) Schmidt, Joe (Liz) Schmidt, Mary (Kirby) Diller and the late Debbie (Randy) Rockamann.
Endlessly curious, Jim backpacked across the globe for more than a year after graduating from high school. He explored Central America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Along the way, Jim worked on farms, summited Mount Kilimanjaro, hitchhiked, lived in a kibbutz, encountered gorillas and elephants in the wild, toured holy sites, and saw the ancient Pyramids. As he encountered different cultures, religions, customs and peoples, he made friends with folks from around the world.
Back home in St. Louis, Jim attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Saint Louis University. He worked in several fields, including sign painting and sales. He married Jo Hart and together they had a daughter, Blaise Hart-Schmidt.
Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in his late 30s, Jim lived valiantly with the disease as it deteriorated his health for the next three decades.
Jim was a community organizer. As an owner-occupant of a four-family apartment building in Overland, Jim welcomed tenants from all walks of life. He was a co-founder of both the Overland Community Garden and the Overland Farmers Market, both of which continue to exist today. He was a member of the Overland Lions Club, hosted block parties in his neighborhood, and was an active participant in local government.
But Jim’s interests and passions knew no bounds. He cultivated mushrooms, practiced woodworking, analyzed world affairs, learned about architecture, examined history, and explored sustainable agriculture. He loved hearing about the accomplishments, studies and travels of his many nieces and nephews. And he loved watching movies that were based on true stories.
As MS continued to attack Jim’s body, he developed ingenious solutions to maintain his independence, along with immeasurable help from family and loved ones. In 2020, he moved into Delmar Gardens West, where he served on the Resident’s Council.
But Jim’s proudest accomplishment was his daughter, Blaise. Jim adored Blaise, and consistently bragged about her to anyone he met. In fatherhood, Jim imparted on Blaise the importance of hard work, family devotion, and working for social and environmental progress. Mostly though, he loved her fiercely and unfailingly. Jim was thrilled to welcome his son-in-law, Joseph Doyle, to the family when Blaise and Joseph married in April 2024.
Jim will be remembered for his eccentricity, quirky sense of humor, commitment to community, and enduring love for family. He chose to donate his body to WashU Medicine, helping to advance the study and practice of medicine.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held in the near future, with details to be announced as soon as possible. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
What a lovely and endearing tribute to Jim! And, Blaise, you truly are his wonderful, kind and beautiful living legacy. Our hearts hurt for your loss. We love you, Blaise!
Aunt Terry and Joel
Jim was a remarkable man. He was loved and will be missed deeply. I miss his sweetness, his heart and intelligence, his adventurous spirit.
Goodbye, friend.
Friends For 50 Years ! R.I.P. Jim
I always enjoyed hanging out with my cousin Jim when we visited St. Louis when I was growing up. Jim was fearless; I was amazed watching him selling newspapers in the middle of a busy four-lane street when we were 14.
Jimmy was amazing! He had an insatiable appetite for knowledge, new ways of learning and cultural travel.
Jim could, and did, talk to anyone – even callers to a wrong phone number! He came back from traveling with a sort of melting-pot accent from having fully engaged with all the people he encountered.
He could make anything into a cartoon and added ‘marginals’ to letters back home. His laughter was infectious.
I love you
E
Enjoyed all my visits with you Jim from Overland to Delmar Gardens, you’re stoic strength in the face of adversity is an example for us all. 🙏 RIP in God’s loving arms brother!
Blaise, it was such an honor to see the happiness on your dad’s face when you and Joseph got married. From the person you are to everything you’ve done to care for your father, no daughter has ever made her father so proud. Sending all our love to you at this impossible time.
Peace be with you Jimmy. We always enjoyed the time we spent with you whenever we came to St. Louis, and if I’m not mistaken you came out to Denver and spent some time with us!
Jim was one of a kind—smart, adventurous, and curious about the world. To this day I tell people about the trip he made with his brother in the 1970s, which included living for 10 cents per day in Egypt (or was it India?) and hitch-hiking across Afghanistan. I last spoke to him maybe 15 years back and he was indeed incredibly proud of his daughter. He treated others well and was just a lovely guy.
Blaise, your written tribute to your father, Jim, is beautiful! I knew Jim via my wife Cheryl’s relationship with him over the years. I saw him as a man intensely interested in life and after reading your loving words, I can say, here is a man who lived life to the full, in spite of his debilitating MS! May he Rest in God’s Good Peace, and I pray you sense his adventurous spirit often as you continue your life on this beautiful Earth.
Jimmy’s parting left a big ol’ hole in the world. He sure was fun! He showed amazing courage in the face of MS and had a rare curiosity about many things. He did so much, both for his family and for others. We’re really going to miss you Jimmy.