John Bernard Schilling, Jr., of Brentwood, California peacefully passed away at the age of 94 on August 15, 2022. We are sure he is reunited with his beloved wife Patricia Schilling, drinking Starbucks. John was born May 1, 1928 at St. Mary’s Hospital, San Francisco to John Bernard Schilling, Sr. of Minneapolis, MN and Sophia “Vera” Elvira Thompson of Fort Bragg, CA.

John is survived by his son Eric Conrad Schilling, daughters Lisa Marie Pardon, Mia Lynn Reiser, Ann Patrice Schilling and Julie Amy Habiger; his grandchildren Jamie Victoria Zekofsky, Brittany Leigh Zekofsky, Zina LeAnn Schilling, Tourelle Schilling, Krista Jean, Reiser, Jessica Amy Habiger, Jack William Habiger and Kailani Fu Yin Pardon; cousin Rhonda Madden, Pamela Hammond, niece Lydia Bachman, and nephew Brian Schilling and many friends and extended family.

In 1945, John graduated from Alameda High School and went on to receive his bachelor’s of science degree for Chemistry from University of California, Berkeley.

In 1951 John served in the US Army in Korea as Staff Sergeant Secretary for the Commanding General of IX Corps Military. He was proud of the Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant he received for his service. Upon leaving the Army, John worked as a chemist at Newport Products of Safeway, Del Monte, Redman Scientific Co. Later he moved onto a sales career like his father. By 1960 he became Manager of Sales at Carl Ziess, Inc. of Berkeley & San Francisco until 1971. He finished his career in sales with Technical Instruments of San Francisco from 1971 until his retirement in 1989.

As anyone who knew John could tell you that he had a lifelong passion for trains His love of trains came from growing up in San Francisco riding streetcars and trains. In retirement he was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of conducting the trolley car at Western Railway Museum in Suisun City, CA and later volunteered with the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, NV.

In John’s later years he became very interested in genealogy and traveled all over collecting data on his family tree. John was particularly proud of his Finnish Heritage from his mother’s side. John even served as President of the Finnish Brotherhood in Berkeley, CA. He studied the Finnish language and even traveled to Finland to visit a distant cousin.

Throughout his life, John was an avid photographer who chronicled his travels and family with incredible photos. He passed along his love photography to his children.

Most of all, John loved to laugh. He was an enormous fan of Buster Keaton, Jonathan Winters, and the Larry Sanders show. He co-wrote comedy sketches for the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Church’s “Hungry U.” John had a long and happy retirement filled with loved hobbies, friends and family. He shall be missed. But to John and his memory we say “Hey Now!”

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