Obituary for John August Schmeling Jr.
John August Schmeling, Jr. went to be with our Lord on April 24, 2022, in Kauai, HI, surrounded by his family.
Born on September 20, 1947 in Milwaukee, WI and preceded in death by parents, John A. Schmeling and Carol Jean Moyle, and first wife, Nancy Claire Schmeling, John is survived by Shannon, his wife of 30 years, son Ron (Kahala) Knopp, daughter Kapeka Estrella, brothers Dean (Carol), and Glenn (Diane) Schmeling, and uncle & aunt, Richard & Ruth Wrubbel.
John graduated from Washington High School in 1966 and spent a year in the Forestry program at Steven’s Point because he initially thought he wanted to be a professional tree hugger.
He founded Groundwater Water Beds in 1972 with the first store on Brady St. Eventually there were sixteen furniture stores across the state of WI: six corporate stores and 10 franchised locations. Slogan: We Never Soaked Nobody!
While running Groundwater, he also ran the local Teen Challenge chapter from 1981-1986 and ministered to gangs in Milwaukee’s inner city.
John retired from Groundwater in 1987 and moved the family to Kauai, Hawaii. It was there that John founded, and was Sr. Pastor at, Lighthouse Christian Fellowship. John had a passion for Christ and for his fellow men and women. He never met a stranger and touched lives wherever he went. We know he continues to do this in Glory.
And while we will all miss John, this is not goodbye, it is “see you real soon”! “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
A recording of the service is available on the Schramka Facebook page: https://fb.watch/dlQjDkKQLY/
Born on September 20, 1947 in Milwaukee, WI and preceded in death by parents, John A. Schmeling and Carol Jean Moyle, and first wife, Nancy Claire Schmeling, John is survived by Shannon, his wife of 30 years, son Ron (Kahala) Knopp, daughter Kapeka Estrella, brothers Dean (Carol), and Glenn (Diane) Schmeling, and uncle & aunt, Richard & Ruth Wrubbel.
John graduated from Washington High School in 1966 and spent a year in the Forestry program at Steven’s Point because he initially thought he wanted to be a professional tree hugger.
He founded Groundwater Water Beds in 1972 with the first store on Brady St. Eventually there were sixteen furniture stores across the state of WI: six corporate stores and 10 franchised locations. Slogan: We Never Soaked Nobody!
While running Groundwater, he also ran the local Teen Challenge chapter from 1981-1986 and ministered to gangs in Milwaukee’s inner city.
John retired from Groundwater in 1987 and moved the family to Kauai, Hawaii. It was there that John founded, and was Sr. Pastor at, Lighthouse Christian Fellowship. John had a passion for Christ and for his fellow men and women. He never met a stranger and touched lives wherever he went. We know he continues to do this in Glory.
And while we will all miss John, this is not goodbye, it is “see you real soon”! “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
A recording of the service is available on the Schramka Facebook page: https://fb.watch/dlQjDkKQLY/