John Martin Schmidt of Abbotsford was born Dec. 16, 1901 to Martin and Maria (Klassen) Schmidt in Gruenfeld, Schlactin, South Russia. He accepted Christ in 1921, when he was very ill with Typhus.

In 1923, he was baptized and joined the MB church in Steinfeld, South Russia. In 1923 he was called into alternative service for 3 years.

In 1925 another paid for his fare to Canada and he was allowed to go.

On August 16, 1925, John married Anna Remple in Hochfeld, Manitoba. He had become engaged to her two years before the wedding. They worked on several farms, and then rented a farm. After grasshoppers destroyed the crops, they moved to Winnipegosis, Man., where they farmed for 4 years. Here John conducted Sunday school in their home.

In 1939 they moved to Yarrow, BC, where they joined the Yarrow MB Church. He worked as a carpenter and at various other jobs and also raised raspberries. He loved gardening, and grew enough to give away to people in need.

In 1989 they moved to the Menno Home in Abbotsford. He wished he could go back to his farm and garden. His toe never healed after an ingrown nail was removed in June 1992; his leg was amputated in November and he passed away on Anna's birthday, December 30th, 1992.

He is mourned by Anna; daughter: Lydia Schmidt; sons Ben, Jake, Helmut and Ted; 28 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and 1 sister. The funeral was January 5, 1993 in Bakerview MB Church, Clearbrook, BC.