Johann was born on 25-Oct-1902 in Trossen. Johann's father was Johann Smollich and his mother was Wilhelmine Lalla. His paternal grandparents were Michael Smollich and ? Hartwig. He was the youngest of four children. He had two brothers and a sister, named Herrmann, Franz and Ida. He died, at the age of 93, on 2-May-1996 in Münster.