Donald “Don” Thomas Schmidt, 86, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2024. A cherished husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Don’s life was defined by his passions, dedication to his family, and generous spirit.
Born and raised in South County, St. Louis, Don was deeply rooted in the community he loved. He spent 64 wonderful years married to his devoted wife, Sarah Schmidt (née Lupo). Together, they nurtured a loving family, including their four children: Jeff (Aggie), Steve (Suzie), John, and Tom. Don’s legacy also includes his grandchildren Benjamin (Katie), Luke, Grace, Rachel (Hernan), Amy, Joseph, and Michael as well as his treasured great-granddaughter, Anna Schmidt. Each of them brought immense joy to his life.
Don’s fascination with aviation began early and guided his career path. He earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from Parks College, then began his professional journey at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis. He later enjoyed a fulfilling 30-year career at IBM. Don’s lifelong passion for flight was reflected in his hobby of building model airplanes, a pursuit that mirrored his deep enthusiasm for aviation.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Don was known for his vibrant personality and zest for life. He found great pleasure in golfing, fishing, and camping, and was renowned for regaling friends and family with his humorous and captivating stories. His ability to find joy in life’s simple pleasures and his unwavering love for his family made him a beloved presence in their lives.
Don will be remembered for his kindness, humor, and the profound love he had for his family and friends. Although he will be deeply missed, his spirit and the cherished memories he created will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
A memorial service to celebrate Don’s life will be held on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a religious service following, at Kutis Affton Chapel, 1015 Gravois Road, Affton, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (act.alz.org) in Don’s honor.
Rest in peace, Don. Your legacy of love, laughter, and adventure will forever inspire and uplift those fortunate enough to have known you.
Sarah and boys. I am so sorry for your loss. Don was a great friend, mentor, and supporter to me at IBM. He was my first manager and thanks to his support I was able to have a successful 33 year career. We shared many experiences including having his fishing boat sink at Mark Twain lake. I regret not staying in touch with him after retirement. Wishing you all the best for the future. Bill Schnyder
To Sarah and Don’s family we are sorry to hear about Don passing. Starting in the mid 1990’s Don and several other retired IBM’ers plus others would play a weekly round of golf. Some weeks we would play more than once. Occasionally we had as many as a dozen players. Don and I would give each other a hard time about our game. All in the name of fun. This went on for more than twenty years. Don (RIP) we enjoyed your friendship and all of us shall remember the great times we had together
I am so sorry to hear this. I had the pleasure of working with Don at IBM. He was such a great guy— so honest, hard working and down to Earth. One of the best for sure. I know he will be greatly missed.