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In Memory

Jeff Schmelter - Class Of 1973

OBITUARY FROM KLEIN FUNEAL HOME CHAMPIONS (KLEIN, TX) WEBSITE, MARCH 26, 2019:
 
Deacon Jeffrey Michael Schmelter, age 64, lost his valiant battle with lung cancer on March 23, 2019, when he passed away peacefully. God was kind enough to let his son, Ryan, and some of his close friends be with him as he took his last breath. He was born in Hobart, Indiana, on May 6, 1954, but called Houston, Texas, home for over 32 years.
 
Jeff is one of those rare people who live, breathed, and walked with God constantly. His love for God trumped everything, and his love for his son was right after that. He was drawn to all people and especially to those some would call today's most obvious sinners - the incarcerated, the addicts, the discouraged and downtrodden - and counted himself as one with them, spending his last 32 years giving back to those he identified with personally. He was a devoted father, minister, spiritual advisor, sponsor, mentor, guitarist, vocalist, and friend to so many including the homeless and the stranger on the street, both of whom he enjoyed speaking to as often as possible, and always with his unique sense of humor which was never far from the surface.
 
He was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on January 31, 2015, after completing the six-year Diaconate Formation Program at St. Mary's Seminary within the St. Thomas University educational system. Jeff accomplished this while also being employed full-time by the City of Houston within the Houston Airport System. He was a long-standing employee with them for almost 26 years, working most recently as the Party Chief of the Aviation/Planning, Design, and Construction Group. He was dedicated tens of thousands of volunteer hours in various social ministries including Prison Ministry and 12-step Recovery Programs. Jeff led AA meetings at Isaiah House, a halfway house within the Christian New Creation organization every Thursday night for more than 10 years where he touched the lives of over 1,200 men as they transitioned back into society from prison. At Prince of Peace Catholic Community, his home parish for over 30 years, Jeff served both the English and Spanish speaking communities as a Deacon and was also very active in the Music Ministry before he was ordained. He was a graduate of St. Bridget Grade School and the Hobart High School as part of the Class of 1973. He was an avid sports fan and loved Notre Dame, the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago Bears, and, more recently, the Houston Astros.
 
Jeff was the beloved father of Ryan Jeffrey Schmelter of Beaumont, Texas, and the seventh child of Elmer and Mary June Schmelter. He was preceded in death by his parents and youngest sister, Jacqueline Marie Schmelter. In addition to Ryan, Jeff is survived by 10 siblings - Jerry (Shelly) Schmelter, Diane Hanson, Dan (Nancy) Schmelter, Jim (Rose) Schmelter, Joyce (Ed) Bennett, Rose (Charles) Parks, Patrice Mullen, Pam Mills, Mary Ellen (Doug) Perney, and Jeanette (Glenn) Jones, as well as numerous loving Godchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
 
Deacon Jeff's family wishes to express their deep gratitude to the many special people who have assisted Jeff with so many things over the last 10 months of his life's journey, joyfully offering transportation to and from cancer treatments, clean laundry and delicious food, all topped off with deep conversations, warm fellowship, and, most important, unconditional love.
 
Those wishing to celebrate Jeff's life are invited to visit with the family beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at Prince of Peace Catholic Community, 19222 Tomball Pkwy., Houston, TX 77070. The Rosary will begin at 6:45 p.m. with a Vigil Service to follow at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 29, in the church. Private cremation will follow the Funeral Mass with Deacon Jeff's remains to be interred in Hobart, Indiana, at a later date.
 
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Isaiah House (www.cnc-inc.org) in Jeff's memory. Arrangements have been entrusted to Klein Funeral Home - Champions, 16131 Champion Forest Drive, Spring, TX 77379 (281.320.2674).
 
This information and picture were obtained from: http://www.kleinfh.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=2166916.