John R Schmeitzel

John Richard Schmeitzel (Beshara), a loving husband, father, grandfather and longtime resident of Columbus, Ohio, died of natural causes on August 23rd, 2020 at the age of 90 while being surrounded by his loved ones in the comfort of his own home.

John is survived by his wife Julie Schmeitzel; his children, Cheryl and Mike Johnston, Eva Cataland, Lorie McCaughan , Jackie and Paul Marburger, John and Denise Schmeitzel Jr, and Jason and Erin Schmeitzel; his fifteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren; his sisters Janice Tomlinson and Carol Pohlod; and his brother Peter Beshara. He is preceded in death by his sisters Marcia Myers, Jean Zarzour and Janeth Sayre; and his brother Bobby Beshara.

John, better known as “Jack”, was born on January 23rd, 1930 to Peter Beshara and Martha Wright. John was a devout Catholic who spent the early years of his life serving as an altar boy for his church. He graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Columbus prior to enlisting in the United States Navy where he served for a total of seven years prior to being honorably discharged. John worked proudly as a heavy equipment operator for more than 30 years with George J. Igel & CO, Inc.

On September 12th, 1964, he married the love of his life Julie to whom he was married to for fifty-six years. John was a devoted family man. He enjoyed writing and reciting poetry, sailing, woodworking, and most importantly, telling stories. Jack Schmeitzel loved to make others laugh – even if it was at his own expense. He was selfless, caring, and will be deeply missed by his friends, family, and all who knew him.

Jack’s family will receive friends at a visitation from 4:00pm until 7:00pm on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at the Schoedinger Funeral Home located at 6699 N High St, Worthington, OH 43085. Due to the Covid-19 health restrictions, all guests are required to wear masks and maintain social distancing at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 28, 2020 at 10:30 am at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 313 N. State St., Westerville, OH with burial and graveside military honors to follow at Resurrection Cemetery, 9571 North High St., Lewis Center, OH 43035.

Contributions in memory of John R. Schmeitzel may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at https://www.lbda.org/donate or by mail to Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc., 912 Killian Hill Road SW, Lilburn, GA 30047 or to National Parkinson Foundation Ohio at https://www.parkinson.org/ways-to-give and by mail at National Parkinson Foundation Ohio, 2800 Corporate Exchange Drive, #300, Columbus, Ohio 43231

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