Jimmie Alton Schindewolf

Jimmie, 80, passed away Monday, April 8, 2024. He was a life-long member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Klein. Jimmie was born May 19, 1943, and was baptized June 6th that same year.  He excelled at school and enjoyed playing basketball. He made life-long friends that he would cherish until the day he left this earth. Jimmie was confirmed in the eighth grade on April 14, 1957. His parents, along with Trinity Lutheran Church and School, provided Jimmie with the tools and the beliefs that would sustain him through a life and career that would take him to heights only few ever have the chance to attain. He graduated from Klein High School in 1961.

Jimmie played basketball, football and ran track. Jimmie worked with his father on their truck farm all throughout his school years. He, as well as his 2 brothers and sister knew the value of hard work. Jimmie worked his way through college and earned a Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Houston. Jimmie began his career in public service with the TX Highway Dept and then moved to the Harris Co. Engineering Dept. In 1974 he joined the City of Houston Public Works Dept. In his distinguished 50 plus year public service career, he served as Director of Public Works & Engineering under five mayors. Jimmie worked as Project Director for the Owners Rep Team for the construction of NRG Stadium and Minute Maid Park. He served as General Manager of the North Harris County Regional Water Authority for seventeen years. The Board of Directors named the Spears Road Pump Station, the Jimmie Schindewolf Regional Pump Station.  Jimmie lived every day appreciating his wife, Carrie, his family and friends. He simply loved being Uncle Jimmie.  He was an avid outdoorsman. Jimmie loved to fish and hunt. He spent many nights playing cards and exchanging stories about all his various trips and experiences.

Jimmie is preceded in death by his parents, Carl Friedrich and Meta Hedwig Roth Schindewolf. He was also preceded in death by his beloved Sister-in-Law, Susan Cowan Schindewolf. Additionally, his Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law, Clyde Edward and Aline Gust Collins

The Family

Jimmie is survived by his devoted and loving wife of almost 40 years, Carrie Collins Schindewolf. He is also survived by his loving brothers, Donald Schindewolf and wife, Cindy, Perry Schindewolf and wife Peggy. His cherished sister, Janelle Schindewolf Watson. His brother-in-laws, Ed Collins and fiancé, Kimberly Cates, Jeffrey Collins and wife, Karen. Jimmie is also survived by his nephews, Aaron Schindewolf, Erik Schindewolf and wife, Kristen along with great-nieces Kate and Abbey, Carl Schindewolf and wife Traci, with great-nephews Tripp and Tucker. His nieces, Stacey Miles, and husband, Mickey and great-nieces, Ashley and fiancé Jake Zamora and Lindsay and fiancé Devin Powers, Shayna Helvey along with great-nieces Rylee and Harper. Also mourning Jimmie's passing is his nephew, Lt Col Brandon Collins and wife, Lt Col Eva Cook Collins and great-nieces and nephews, Brooks and Claire Collins, George, Gene and Lee Cook, and finally, Nieces, Caroline and Katelyn Corrigan, and many relatives and friends.

Special recognition, gratitude and love to Jimmie's Personal Assistants/ Friends – Jayne Self Longley, Shelley Scherer, and Lisa Randecker (JAS's Right-Hand) and her daughter Jet.  Also love and recognition to Beth (Bella) Craig - therapist/nurse/ innovator and our dear and best friend, Lavona Sherman, whom we could never have done without. Lastly, special love and gratitude to Janelle for her devotion and love.

Those desiring to make contributions: Trinity Klein Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, Jimmie A. Schindewolf Scholarship, U of Houston, or to the https://bit.ly/4aSKEoT charity of your choice, especially anything having to do with wildlife or conservation.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, April 17, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Klein Funeral Home-Tomball and Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm with a funeral service immediately to start at 12:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Klein Church. Burial will follow at Trinity Lutheran Klein Cemetery.

Jimmie Schindewolf, 80, of Klein, Texas passed away on   April 8, 2024. Scientists knew this date would mark a major life event that would be remembered forever. However, this date would bring the unexpected and something we had not  planned for – something monumental, something that changed our lives forever. The passing of the force of nature that we knew as Jimmie Schindewolf. This mortal world would be less brilliant, but because of his belief in Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Jimmie would bath in the brilliant light that can only be felt by true believers.

Who would have ever guessed the toe-headed, freckled face boy running through the fields of the German-descendent farming community just north of Houston would someday walk the marbled floors of Houston's City Hall and be comfortable in the company of iconic business leaders, mayors, senators and even presidents.  Jimmie credited his Christian foundation from his parents and from Trinity Lutheran Church and School for sustaining him through a life and career that would take him to heights only few ever have the chance to attain. Jimmie would constantly say, "I'm the luckiest guy in the world".  Any success that I have obtained is due to those who put me on the right path. He was a smart, strong, gentle, generous and forthright man. His moral compass never strayed off-course.

Jimmie had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge his entire life. He was a ferocious reader. He started by reading every book in the Trinity Lutheran School Library. He forged lifelong friendships at Trinity.  He would have the same friends throughout his lifetime. Jimmie was extremely proud of his German heritage. Jimmie came from very humble beginnings. His father decided with 4 children and a wife to support, he should put farming to the side and go to work for Harris County on a surveying crew. Johnny Gunter was the crew chief. Jimmie and his family would have a longtime friendship with Johnny and at age 7, young Jimmie got the bug to be a surveyor, which lead him directly into civil engineering.  Jimmie would excel in school and enjoy playing basketball and baseball. He graduated from Klein High School in 1961. Jimmie continued to play basketball, football and ran track.  He loved to high-jump and wrote an essay about what it mentally took for an athlete to be successful. Jimmie continued to work with his father on their truck farm all throughout his school years. He, as well as his 2 brothers and sister knew the value of hard work. He worked for Harris County during his summers in college, fixing potholes and mowing roadsides for Commissioner E.A. "Squatty" Lyons. Jimmie worked his way through Texas A&M, Sam Houston State and earned a Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Houston in 1967. Jimmie remained a proud U of H Cougar throughout his life.


Jimmie began his career in public service with the Texas Highway Dept and then he went to work for the Harris County Engineering Dept., where he worked for Dick Doss, the County Engineer. Jimmie always thanked Mr. Doss for all his guidance and for giving him the opportunity to succeed. In 1974, the "Legendary" E. B. (Bill) Cape, the longtime Houston public works director hand-picked Jimmie to be his right-hand man. Mr. Cape created the new position of Deputy Director to lure Jimmie away from Harris County. Mr. Cape died in1977, Jimmie was appointed by Mayor Fred Hofheinz on October 14,1977 to lead the Public Works Dept. At age 34, Jimmie became the youngest public works director of a major city. Jimmie thrived as the director of public works. He was a champion for maintenance and making sure the citizens of Houston's needs were in the forefront of his agenda. Jimmie would then meet the man he would call his mentor, Walter Mischer, Senior. Walter  Mischer would be instrumental in molding Jimmie into the best public servant he could be. They spent many an hour on the South Texas Plains and Mountains in Lajitas, mulling over all the challenges facing the young Director Jimmie Schindewolf. Jimmie would always be grateful for Mr. Mischer's counsel and his friendship.

Jimmie served as Public Works Director for Mayor Hofheinz, Mayor Jim McConn and Mayor Kathryn Whitmire and Mayor Lee P. Brown.  He also served Mayor McConn in the role of Senior Executive Assistant.
The City would also introduce him to Carrie Collins, who would become his wife of almost 40 years. In 1983, he was selected as one of the three Top Public Works Officials in the State and that was followed by one of the highlights of his career, to be named one of the Top Ten Public Works Officials in the United States.  An honor that had been also given to his late boss, Mr. Cape.  In June of 1983 Jimmie moved to the private sector and was President and co-owner of a successful paving and utility construction company. After nine years in the construction business, he was tapped by Mayor Bob Lanier to join his administration. Jimmie would go back to The City of Houston because he said public service was in his blood. He would serve as Mayor Lanier's Co-Chief of staff and Director of Public Works & Engineering. Jimmie oversaw the building of The Cape Center, a training center for city employees and a tribute to his late boss, Mr. Cape. He received many awards including being the first recipient of the American Public Works Association's Charles Swearingen Presidential Leadership Award for distinguished service, the 1992 University of Houston Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award and the TSPE 1994 Engineer of the Year. Jimmie served four years on the Board of Directors of the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society, including one year as President of that organization, which he called a labor of love. Jimmie was a Registered Professional Engineer and a Registered Public Land Surveyor. He was a member of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.
His career would then take a turn… he was then able to do two, once-in-a-lifetime projects.  He was the Project Director for His Owner's Representative Team for the award-winning Minute Maid Park, and NRG, formerly Reliant Stadium, home of the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock & Rodeo.

Jimmie was not finished with public service. He was appointed General Manager of the North Harris County Regional Water Authority (NHCRWA). This project was the ending of a 50-year project that he had followed since 1974. He spent seventeen years at the Authority. He retired in December 2020. The Board of Directors honored him by naming the Spears Road Pump Station, the Jimmie Schindewolf Regional Pump Station.

Jimmie was a humble man. He would look at this body of work and say that I was the luckiest guy on earth. I was blessed with so many opportunities and I did not do anything without my Lord and Savior. Jimmie served on the Church Council as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Trinity. He and Jim Kellerman chaired the first big Fundraiser for the church. He chaired the Building Committee for the new Family Life Center. Jimmie would credit any success he had to all the talented and wonderful people he had the privilege of working with all throughout his life. He had the best parents, the best sister and brothers and the unwavering support of his wife Carrie. They were always a team. He was surrounded by his extended family. Jimmie was blessed with the friendship of so many people.
Relationships were everything to him. He was generous. He also supported and encouraged area youth through FFA Project Shows and the Harris County Fair. He had the honor of being named an Ex-Officio Director of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.

Jimmie truly loved just being Uncle Jimmie. He could never resist any fundraiser.  Jimmie was an avid outdoorsman. He loved being outdoors. Jimmie often recalled all the fun he had with his friends, the hunting trips, the fishing trips, the card playing, the barbequing for the annual church picnics, and the birthday parties Carrie insisted on him having.  Jimmie was content just driving the tractor, something he had done his entire life. He left this earth a man filled with love and gratitude for all his blessings.