John Henry Schmelzer

DURHAM, NC – John Henry Schmelzer, age 76, died at the Woodland Terrace assisted living community in Cary, NC on March 12, 2025. He was born on March 1, 1949 to the late Roy and Angela Schmelzer of Sturgeon Bay, WI.

John was born in Sturgeon Bay and spent his childhood there, helping his father at his restaurant, Roy’s Drive-In. He graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1967 after earning the nickname “Smiley” for his friendly and lighthearted nature. He attended college at the University of Wisconsin, then transferred to the University of Florida after his parents moved there in search of warmer weather, graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering in 1972.

After starting his first job at the DuPont May Plant in Camden, SC, John met Karen Brannon and they were married on July 3, 1976. They moved to Durham in 1978 and raised their family there. He designed tobacco processing lines for the Liggett & Myers Company and built out a new facility for the U.S. Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers Cooperative, retiring from his role as plant engineer in 2011. John was a long-time parishioner at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Durham and led several outreach ministries, as well as cleanup and maintenance of the school grounds and play areas. He also loved classic rock and jazz music, traveling the world and tinkering in his garage workshop.

John is survived by his wife of 49 years, Karen Schmelzer of Apex, NC; his daughter Christina (Bill) Carinci and son Adam (Caroline) Schmelzer of Apex, NC; four grandchildren: Lily and Ava Carinci, and Camden and Catie Ann Schmelzer; and his brother Jim Schmelzer of Rock Hill, SC. John was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Carol Cardenas of Green Valley, AZ.

Visitation with family will be held on Sunday, March 16 from 4:00-6:00 pm at the Hall-Wynne Funeral Home (1113 W Main St, Durham). A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 17 at 11:00am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (810 W Chapel Hill St, Durham).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Durham County (https://www.durhamhabitat.org) or Urban Ministries of Durham (https://umdurham.org), two organizations that John devoted himself to serving regularly.

The family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.