John Schnabel, the patriarch of the Schnabel family featured in the Discovery reality series “Gold Rush,” has died, his family said in a statement Friday. He was 96.
In the statement, the family called Schnabel “a true legend.”
“We couldn’t have asked for a better father, grandfather and overall family man,” the family said. “He was a true legend and we appreciate all of your love and support as we celebrate his wonderful life.”
The documentary series focuses on gold mining in the Yukon Territory and includes a number of mining teams. The Schnabel family operates the Big Nugget Mine featured on the series.
Watch a video detailing Schnabel’s history below.
Grandpa Schnabel’s History | Gold Rush from Discovery Channel on Vimeo.