Jim Schmidt, Owner of Don Schmidt Nurseries, Dies at 63

Jennifer Zurko

Longtime member of the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) and Japanese maple expert Jim Schmidt passed away from a heart attack on December 30, 2009. He was 63 years old.

Jim grew up in the Portland, Oregon area, where he attended high school before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1963. He served on the U.S.S. Ticonderoga, which was the first ship to experience enemy fire during the Vietnam War. After he was honorably discharged, Jim attended Portland State University. In 1973, he and his wife Linda were married and bought Don Schmidt Nursery located in Boring, Oregon, from his parents a year later.

Best known for growing more than 350 different cultivars of Japanese maples, Jim also grew several other flowering trees, including cherry and dogwood. Jim had strong ties to the nursery business and served as president of OAN’s Mount Hood chapter.

He is survived by his wife Linda, his son James, his daughter Lindsey, and his sisters Donna and Carolyn, along with several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to the Feral Cat Coalition. GT