Paul J. Schmidt, Jr.

Paul J. Schmidt, Jr., 90, was called home on December 8, 2021 to be with his beloved wife Norma, who passed away exactly two weeks earlier. That was the longest they had been apart in 65 years of marriage. It was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Paul was born in Akron, Ohio on September 15, 1931 to the late Paul J. Schmidt, Sr. and Matilda (Aman) Schmidt. He married Norma on April 14, 1956. Together, they lived most of their lives in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Paul was a man of great service to his country and his community. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Army in active duty from 1951 to 1953 (and in the reserves until 1959), where he was a certified guidance missile crewman working on the development of the U.S.’s first operational anti-aircraft missile system, the Nike Ajax, and for which he received a distinguished service award. Later he served as a Special Deputy Sheriff in Summit County, Ohio. He was a charter member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Cuyahoga Falls and was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters for 77 years.

Paul is survived by his son, Mark (Lorna) of Camarillo, California; daughter, Kim Schmidt Forsythe (Mark) of Cuyahoga Falls; son, Paul (Tamara) of Vienna, Virginia; grandchildren, Sean Forsythe (Whitney), Jessica O’Donnell (Paul), Meghann, Kathryn, Michael, Ashley and Alexander; great-grandchildren, Connor, Ella, James and Willow; his sisters Joyce Rish and Janet Schank; several nephews, nieces, cousins and other relatives, friends and loved ones.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife and best friend, Norma; his parents; his brother, Jack; sisters, Maryann McDougall and Rita Jansen, as well as several in-laws relatives and friends.

Paul was a carpenter and a builder. After a short time hanging garage doors, he entered the construction business working for Dillon Construction, and spent most of his career with Forest City Dillon as a project manager. After retiring from Forest City he continued to work for a time at Testa Builders, his relatives’ business. He has a legacy of buildings across the country, including an iconic condominium on the Isle of Capri, Florida, which is a place of many family memories. His last project was an apartment building in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside of Washington D.C.

In 1961, he built his family a home in the township of Northampton, which later became Cuyahoga Falls. He never wanted to leave that house, and a result of the loving care and attention of his devoted daughter Kim, he and Norma were able to live there until their dying days.

Paul did not have an easy life, but he was a proud man of great strength. In 1965 he suffered a fall from a scaffold on a construction project, crippling him for life. Most people would have never walked again, but he defied the odds and suppressed his pain, walking until his final fall.

When he was younger, he loved the outdoors- fishing, hunting, boating and riding his horses. He loved baseball and would always have a radio and earplug with him so as to not miss an Indians game. As he grew older his hobbies turned to wood carving and collecting knives and model cars, and he loved to watch birds. He always kept himself busy.

His family was his pride and joy. There was never any doubt about that. His life revolved around providing for his family. Being born in the great depression, he taught his family to “watch your pennies and your dollars will watch themselves.” And no matter what kind of day he was having, if asked how he was doing he was quick to respond, “fine as frog’s hair.” He was full of one-liners. He was a storybook Papa to his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Paul had a quiet yet strong faith, and together with his loving wife gave his children the great gift of belief in everlasting life. He accomplished what he was called to do, and was ready to meet God.

Paul Schmidt lived an ordinary life, but did so extraordinarily well.

The family will celebrate Paul’s life in a private memorial service on Saturday, December 18, 2021, and they thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

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