John Louis Schmidt, Jr.

John Louis Schmidt passed away from complications related to Huntington’s disease on September 13, 2026 at his home in Littleton, surrounded by his family. He was 71.

The second of five children, John was born on April 17, 1955 in Oklahoma City and raised in Littleton by his late parents, John Schmidt Sr. (Bud) and Ellen Patricia (Pat). He met his wife Meredith Locke at Arapahoe High School. The two married in 1979 and would go on to have three children and three grandchildren. He was an alumnus of Colorado State University and spent his career as a petroleum engineer.

John had a restless energy and an indomitable work ethic. His career in the energy industry took him from Gillette, Wyoming to Houston and Oklahoma City before he returned to Colorado, where he would eventually found his own company, Rio Blanco Energy. He maintained a number of lifelong friendships, and is remembered by those who loved him for his quick, dry sense of humor, soft-spoken generosity, and unimpeachable moral compass. He was also a gifted athlete and adventurous spirit who enjoyed spending time playing golf and skiing. In the winters, you might find him in Vail Village with Meredith, drinking an after-ski Coors Banquet and listening to live music in the lodge.

John’s true joy was spending time with his family. He was a devoted husband of 47 years; a beloved father and father-in-law to his children and their spouses; and a cherished Papa to his grandsons.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his sisters Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Haagenson and Kelly Magee.

John is survived by his wife Meredith; his eldest son Joseph Schmidt (Meagan) of Overland Park, KS; his daughter Elizabeth Custer (Paul) of Denver, CO; his youngest son John Schmidt (Julia) of Los Angeles, CA; sisters Ellen Pitchford of Stratton, ME and Kathy Fletcher of Daytona Beach, FL; and grandsons Holland and Henry Schmidt and Emory Custer.

To honor John and his memory, the family encourages donations to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America and/or the Movement Disorders Center at the University of Colorado Anschutz (https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/mdc).