Jay Schmitendorf Obituary

Jay Allen Schmitendorf, 60, passed away at home in Lawrence, KS after a long battle of metastasizing cancer with loving care and support provided by his sister Karena Schmitendorf and cousin Tom Schmitendorf and family. Born at Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas in May 1957, he grew up in the military and was shuttled to various Air Force Bases with his family. He was a sports enthusiast and avid runner. As a youth he participated in sports and was a championship swimmer; in high school at Ellsworth AFB, SD and Redlands, CA he was active in high school varsity sports including football, wrestling and swim teams. He graduated from Kansas University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and worked for several years in Southern California at Northrop Grumman Corporation on Air Force B-1 bomber design and production. Later he worked at other engineering and computer technical jobs. He spent the last few years as a retail manager at Walmart in Elk City, OK. While living in OK, he cared for his elderly mother Allison Lockard, with the assistance of his long time good friend Teresa Burns of Carter, OK. A devout Christian, his passion was teaching Sunday school to young people and giving to the church.

He is survived by his mother Allison Lockard of Carter, OK (daughter of Margaret Isabelle Lockard, of Lawrence, and Art Lockard of Kansas City, both deceased); father James A. Schmitendorf (son of Dewey and Grace Schmitendorf of Lawrence, deceased) and step-mother Dorothy Cummins Schmitendorf of Rapid City, SD; two children, Jeffery Allen Schmitendorf and wife Allison Morgan Schmitendorf of Fullerton, CA and Kimberly Michelle Schmitendorf of St. Louis, MO. Survivors also include siblings Karena Schmitendorf of Lawrence, KS and Eric Schmitendorf of Tehlequah, OK.; nieces Margareta A.S. Brandt, Sacramento, CA, Fredericka L.S. Brandt of St. Louis, MO, nephews Augustus B.S. Brandt of Lawrence, and Maximilian H.S. Brandt of San Luis Obispo, CA; also relatives Schmitendorfs, Sheppards, Popovits, and Lockards, of Lawrence and Topeka.