Obituary of Peter Schneider

Peter Schneider, age 84, of Wisconsin Rapids, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at First English Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. Cheryl Davis will officiate. Burial will be at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery in Menomonie. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:30 P.M. on Wednesday, January 11 at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home followed by a Masonic Memorial Service at 7:30 P.M. There will also be visitation from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services on Thursday at First English Lutheran Church. Peter was born April 6, 1932 in Menomonie, Wisconsin to George and Frances (Nickel) Schneider. He grew up working at the family store, Schneider’s Meat Market and Grocery in Menomonie. Peter graduated from Menomonie High School in 1950. He enrolled in college at UW Stout in Menomonie, only to quit a day later when his father passed away and Peter needed to run the family store full time. When the family decided to close the store two years later, Peter returned to college only to once again have his education interrupted, this time by the Korean War. Peter enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served his country during the war. After his service was completed, he returned to UW Stout and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education. While in college, Peter worked at a local pharmacy and it was there that he met the love of his life, Dorothy Walter. Peter and Dorothy were united in marriage just one year later on June 22, 1957. They were blessed with almost sixty years of marriage. Peter and Dorothy moved to Wisconsin Rapids in 1962 when he took a position as a technical education instructor at Lincoln High School; a position he held until his retirement in 1992. Peter was a longtime member of First English Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids where he served in several capacities, including volunteering with ELCA Mission Builders where he took part in building churches in Colorado Springs, Summerset and Bethany Lutheran Church in the Town of Sigel. Peter was a member of Free and Accepted Masons Wisconsin Rapids Lodge #128, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Eau Claire, and Zor Shrine Funsters. He was able to brighten the day of many children clowning in parades throughout Wisconsin. Peter was also active in the Wisconsin Rapids Community Theater and other area volunteer groups. Peter was a skilled woodworker and loved to work in the garden. He also enjoyed watching Packer and Badger football games, putting together jigsaw puzzles, feeding the birds and playing cribbage with his grandchildren. His greatest joy was spending precious time with his family, especially at the family cottage on Tainter Lake. He was a proud participant in the Never Forgotten Honor Flight. Peter is survived by his wife, Dorothy; three children: Phoebe (David) Duffy, Roseville, MN, Robert (Karen) Schneider, Peshtigo, WI, and Sarah (Darren) Shonts, Menomonie, WI; grandchildren: Matthew (Melissa) Duffy, Patrick (fiancé Chandra) Duffy, Alyssa (Scott) Weispfennig, Denver Carver, Alyse (Aaron) Heckel, Nicholas (Kara) Reich, Brendan Reich, Tyler (Kayla) Shonts and Haylee Shonts; great-granchildren: Maxwell and Samuel Duffy; sister-in-law, Joan Schneider, brother-in-law, David (Susan) Coons, and sister-in-law, Lois (Donald) Manor, and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Mary Lou Coons, brothers: George (Colleen) and Phillip Schneider, nieces: Susan Obermueller and Anne Coons, and in-laws: Martin and Helen Walter. Memorials may be designated to the First English Lutheran Church Endowment Fund or Shriner’s Hospitals for Children-Twin Cities.