Dr. John Schmidt

Dr. John Schmidt, DVM, died peacefully in his sleep Saturday, September 24, 2011.

John was the beloved husband of 44 years to Marilyn (Schierbeek), and devoted father to Jami (husband Kirk Sieder) and Jill (husband Geoffrey Batten). He was "Papa" to three granddaughters who stole his heart: Colette and Madeleine Sieder, and Emerson Batten.

John spent nearly all of his life in Holland and graduated from Holland High School in 1962. He received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University in 1968. After college, John and Marilyn moved to Texas where John served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge, John and Marilyn returned to Holland and John went into practice with his father at Schmidt Veterinary Clinic. John took over the clinic when his father retired and spent his life serving the community as a compassionate doctor and friend. John was a talented artist who delighted in photography, nature, and travel.

Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Marilyn Schmidt of Holland; his daughters, Jami and Kirk Sieder of Atlanta, GA, and Jill and Geoffrey Batten of East Lansing, MI; his granddaughters, Colette and Madeleine Sieder, and Emerson Batten; his mother, Eloise Schmidt of Holland; his brothers, Dick and Jean Schmidt of Fennville, Bill Schmidt of Holland; his mother-in-law, Caroline Schierbeek of Holland; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Patti Carlson and Don Hoekstra of Holland, Eileen and Ron Lenters of Holland, and Ed and Laurie Schierbeek of Holland; and several aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of John's life will be held at 1:30PM on Wednesday September 28, 2011 at First United Methodist Church, 57 West 10th Street.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 6-9 pm at the Mulder Chapel of Dykstra Funeral Homes, 188 West 32nd Street.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to The Boys and Girls Club of Holland, Harbor Humane Society, or the League of Women Voters of the Holland Area.

For more information and an online registry, please visit www.dykstrafuneralhome.com