John R. Schneider

April 20, 1934 - September 18, 2019

John Schneider was born on April 20th, 1934 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The first house he remembered was in Irwin, PA was on a red dog road where you could listen to the vermin in the attic at night. Still, it was a good place to be a kid with a creek in the back, his father’s garden, and assorted dogs, cats, and rabbits as pets. Just don’t mess with the chickens. The family later moved to Mount Royal near Pittsburgh where John graduated from Schaler High School. John played in the marching band as student director and build flying model aircraft, including a “swing wing” model. John went to the University of Pittsburgh and met Audrey Handle at a New Year’s party that he almost didn’t get to because of a snowstorm. It was meant to be, they were married on June 9th, 1956 and they’ve been married 63 years now. After the wedding John and Audrey moved to Baltimore where he worked at Martin Marietta on the Vanguard missile project. After nine months John was called up to the United States Army as part of his ROTC assignment. After having served his country John and Audrey moved back to Pittsburgh to work with the Specialty Metals Division of Westinghouse. While there he earned his MBA. When the need arose, John moved the family to Apalachin, NY to take a position at IBM where he worked for the next 30 years. John was adjunct professor at Binghamton University where is taught simulation of real-time processes. After John retired from IBM, he and Audrey travelled through Europe extensively, going to Oberammergau and following the journeys of Martin Luther. John, being half Scot, also enjoyed touring Scotland and sampling the whisky and pondering the history of the places. History was a favorite subject and his private library is filled with books on many topics, but mainly on the Civil War, which he studied extensively. If there was one thing other than his wife that John was devoted to and adamant about it was the Christian church and his love of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the hero to his younger brother Jim and taught him how to hunt, fish, and drive a car. John played the violin at every opportunity; once even provoking his mother’s poodle into an impromptu “sing along.” He was a good violinist; the dog simply had no taste in music. John played second violin with the Binghamton Symphony, in the Pittsburgh YMCA volunteer orchestra, as well as at church and in nursing homes to entertain the residents. John also sang in the Son Life choir and was willing to sing at any time, pretty much anywhere. It was his “go-to” activity when he was bored. His repertoire included mostly Civil War songs and hymns. Another hobby turned small business was jewelry making, cutting gemstones and precious metal crafting. Once the traveling days were over John and Audrey retired to Florida, first to Lake Worth and then to Greenacres. They have been members of Son Life Lutheran Church for all that time. John rode his bicycle extensively, even commuting to work. He rode in Greenacres as long as he could. He enjoyed the ocean and would go out beyond the breakers and float on his back for hours at a time. John is survived by his wife of 63 years, Audrey, his brother Jim, his children Eric & Karen Schneider, Dianna and Clive Daunton, David and Karen Schneider, and Kristi Schneider, his grandchildren Märya and Taylor Nahalka, Gwyneth Daunton, Paul Schneider, Gareth Daunton, Rhys Daunton, and Devin Schneider, and his great-grandchild Emerson Nahalka. The Graveside Service will be held at 9:30 AM on Friday, September 20, 2019 at Boynton Beach Memorial Park, 1611 South Seacrest Boulevard, Boynton Beach, Florida. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday, October 13, 2019 at Son Life Lutheran Church, Boynton Beach, Florida. In lieu of flowers John and his family would like donations to be made to either Pastor Wokoma in Nigeria: Reverend Charles Wokoma c/o Africa Mission Son Life Lutheran Church 9301 Jog Road Boynton Beach, FL, 33437 Son Life Memorial Fund Son Life Lutheran Church 9301 Jog Road Boynton Beach, FL, 33437 Thank You!