John Philip Schieldge

John Philip Schieldge—a brilliant research scientist, decorated veteran, and beloved family man—passed away at the age of 89 in Roseville, California, on June 28, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of immense intellect, quiet humility, and steadfast love.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, on February 28, 1937, to Henrietta (Uliasz) and Philip Adam Schieldge, John came from very humble beginnings. He possessed an absolute love for learning and knowledge that would guide the extraordinary trajectory of his life. After graduating from Cathedral High School in 1955, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Physics from UC Santa Barbara.

A proud patriot, John served five years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force at Vandenberg Air Force Base, reaching the rank of Captain. In 1967, he served a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam, where his meritorious service earned him an Air Force Commendation Medal.

During this pivotal time in his life, John married the love of his life, Sandra (Chassagne) Schieldge, on October 8, 1966. Together, they shared 59 remarkable years of marriage, building a family that John always considered to be his greatest accomplishment.

Following his military service, John’s academic pursuits continued at UCLA, where he earned a Master of Science in Meteorology in 1970 and a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Physics in 1972. This laid the groundwork for a distinguished career as a research scientist in the aerospace industry. His brilliant mind contributed to monumental projects, including the Strategic Defense Initiative, the development of the B-1 bomber, bunker-buster technology during the first Gulf War, the Mars Rover Mission, and the NASA EOS Terra Mission, for which he was presented an award at the Goddard Space Flight Center. His work took him to Caltech, Boeing, and NASA in Virginia, though he spent the majority of his career rendering faithful service at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Altadena, California.

Despite a resume that changed the world and reached into the stars, John was never a braggart. He was always generous with his friends, family, and neighbors. He cultivated an immense and varied library, reflecting a deeply diverse set of interests.

John also possessed a wonderful sense of humor. He was a comedy aficionado who loved laughing at Will Ferrell movies and Impractical Jokers. He was known to enjoy a good beer and a cigar from time to time, and in the living room, he was the undisputed, undefeated champion of Jeopardy!, always tuning in for his favorite host, Alex Trebek.

Never to be forgotten and always honored, he will live on in the lives of his wife Sandra, children, Kristy Lynne Schieldge, and Kristy’s partner, Steve Hansen and Kurt Janek Schieldge and his wife Raquel Figueira-Schieldge. John is also survived by four beloved grandchildren, Celso Schieldge, Gabriela Schieldge, Jonathan Schieldge, and Alex Hansen, and his siblings, James (Jim) Schieldge and Karen (Schieldge) Musekamp.

We love you, JP and Ampa. We will honor you daily in all that we do.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund.