Joseph Leonard Schmidlkofer

November 18, 1929 – December 7, 2020

Joseph was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was 1 of 10 children born to Frank and Nellie Schmidlkofer.

Joe as his friends called him was quick with a joke and loved to tell a good story. He never passed a person in need without helping. He met the love of his life while serving in the United States Air Force in England. She would affectionately call him her diamond in the rough. They were married for 60 years and made several moves together all over the world before retiring in Oklahoma. In his younger day’s he loved to take the family camping and fishing wherever they lived creating great family memories.

Joe was also known as Papa to his many grandchildren and enjoyed taking them to the lake where he would teach them how to water ski, fish, and the very necessary task of catching crawdads.

He loved to garden and was known for his famous BBQ chicken and SOS. He would often cook the family breakfast and love to host a good get together with friends and family.

In his later years he was known for being “ornery”, “a character”, and “Old Papa”.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father Frank and Nellie Schmidlkofer, his mother-in-law Christina Morley Sparkhall, his brother Frank and his wife Nora, his brother Bernie and his wife Marie, his brother Wink and his wife June, his brother Leo and his wife Dorothy, his sister Rita and her husband George, his sister Mary and her husband Leroy, his brother Paul, his sister Rosie and her husband Robert.

He is survived by his wife June, Daughter Susan Bates and husband David, Daughter Theresa Farris and husband Tommy, Daughter Denise Mason and husband Bobby Joe, and also numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Norman Veterans Center at P.O. Box 1668 Norman, OK 73070.