James Michael Schmidt

James “Jim” Schmidt, 67, of Strasburg, CO, passed away on Monday June 23, 2025, following a battle with cancer.

He was born in Bay City, Michigan on February 24, 1958, to the late Paul and Euphemie “Winnie” (Hool) Schmidt. After graduating from Bay City Central High School, Jim joined the Air Force which allowed him to travel the world and brought him and his family to Colorado. Jim was a Special Agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations before being honorably discharged after 20 years. He then worked for the Colorado Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division as an Investigator and later became the Assistant District Director in Denver. In 2007 he accepted a position as the District Director in Tampa, FL, and remained there until retirement in 2020.

Jim was a dog lover, and he enjoyed restoring classic cars and mastering hobbies like woodworking, winemaking, vegetable gardening, and sharing his homemade foods like Pączki (Polish doughnuts) and beef jerky with family and friends.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Jane (Sohacki); two daughters, Jamie (Israel) Cavazos, and Christine (Don) Young; five grandchildren, IJ and Aiden Cavazos, and Austin (Joy), Kaylie, and Dylan Young; two sisters Shirley (Bill) Russell, and Connie (Tim) Heitzig; in-laws Debbie (Larry) Hammond, Gloria Sohacki, and Ken (Cindy) Sohacki; and eight nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at 10:30 am at Our Lady of the Plains Catholic Church, 186 N. McDonnell St. Byers, CO. The committal service will be on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 11:00 am, at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO, Staging Area C.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jim's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.