John Schmidt

John was born to Michael and Bertha (Steckler) Schmidt approximately 10 miles from Dickinson, N.D., February 17, 1914 and was one of 12 children.

He moved with his parents and siblings around 1921 or 1922 to just west of Harrah, WA to a farm where he was raised. His family were Harrah pioneers. He and his siblings walked approximately 2 ½ miles to school which was located east of the Harrah crossroads on Branch Road on the north side. As a boy his mother would send John to Harrah to buy soup bones and other needed supplies. The family also attended St. Peter Claver Catholic Church of Wapato. John helped his father on the farm when he was old enough and his father was famous for his sugar beets. His father played the accordion and son, John, also taught himself to play the accordion. John played many songs, all of which he learned from memory since he did not know how to read music. John was such an accomplished musician that he played for many different events all over the lower valley; including Union Gap, Yakima, and the 30-30 Club of Wapato.

John married Faye Chaney on a beautiful day on October 7, 1939. John and Faye raised their family on a rented farm off of S. Island Road southwest of Harrah. John raised many different crops throughout his years of farming. During these years John and his family attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church in White Swan.

After his retirement, he and Faye moved to the Wapato area, but always called Harrah their “home town.” John drove his 1928 Ford Roadster in the Harrah annual parade for over 50 years! He took great pride in his roadster which he had restored himself. He did many interesting things in his 100 years; one was belonging to the Harrah Flying Club and another for building beautiful birdhouses.

John is survived by his wife, Faye of 74 years; daughters, Margaret Hagarty and her husband Duane who was John’s caregiver for 14 years, and Sharon O’Shea; son, Ron Schmidt; grandchildren, Christina, Desirée, Fay, Dan, James, Sandy, Edward, Wende and Danielle; 9 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Pearl Schmidt and Alice Chaney; numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents; all of his siblings, brothers, Louis, Mathew, Andrew, Joseph, Paul and Peter Schmidt; sisters, Barbara Schmidt, Leadina Mackey, Caroline Heilman, Mary Eva Britz-Rozelle, and Katherine Walsh; several brothers and sisters-in-laws; step mother, Barbara; son-in-law James O’Shea; grandson, Theodore and Jeffrey O’Shea.

A Recitation of the Rosary and sharing of memories will be held on Monday, June 9, 2014 at 6 p.m. at Merritt Funeral Home in Wapato. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church with burial to immediately follow at Zillah City Cemetery. Merritt Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.