Donald John Schneider

WINONADon's Life Story:Everyone who met Donald Schneider was not only changed for the better, but truly blessed beyond measure. He was outgoing, kindhearted, and genuine, and since he was also a great conversationalist he was the sort of person everyone seemed to know. Don was a devoted husband and loving father who was filled with unspeakable joy to witness his family tree blossom to include the grandchildren who made him so very proud. Generous and deeply involved in the communities he called home, he strived to make a difference in the lives of others in ways both great and small. Don will be forever missed, but his timeless legacy will be proudly carried on by those who follow in his footsteps. During the first half of the 1940s, the eyes of our nation were focused overseas as countless young people were deeply entrenched in the throes of WWII. Those who remained stateside became familiar with rationing on common goods while manufacturing was focused on supporting the war effort. Amidst this eventful time was a time of great joy in the lives of John and Elenora (Tiedt) Schneider as they celebrated the birth of the baby boy they named Donald John on January 4, 1941. Born in the country in Sumner, Iowa, as one of four children in his family, he was raised alongside his brother, Lavern, and his two sisters, Lorraine and Dorothy. Don attended local schools, graduating from West High School in Waterloo, Iowa in 1959.New and exciting changes were in store for Don when he met the young woman of his dreams in the spring of 1961. Her name was Nancy Westcott, and they were set up on a blind date by Nancy's brother, Jerry who was also a friend of Don's. He picked her up in a 1959 Chevy with wings, and she was struck by his appearance - tall, dark, and handsome. They went to a movie that night, and the rest is history as they say. After dating for a time, Don and Nancy were married in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on December 2, 1961, less than a year after they met. Always ready for a good time, Don was known to drag race over 100 mph with Nancy in the front seat, which was common at the time. He attended Iowa State Teachers College for one year and then took a short sabbatical while working part-time for John Deere. The newlyweds moved into their first apartment, which had a cockroach infestation. Their second apartment wasn't much better. In 1962, Don and Nancy built their first home, a cozy 900 square foot three bedroom. There, they raised their children, Kevin and Ellen, and also had great neighbors. They remained in that home until 1974. The Schneiders moved around to various cities within Iowa as Don accepted different job opportunities. He spent some time working for Wausau Homes, but when the housing market crashed he began working in the food industry with Green Giant. Don eventually finished his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting at Iowa State College. Although his intention was to be a math teacher, he was such a people person with a passion for relationship building that human resources and labor relations were a much better fit. Don's work took him to companies like Clay Equipment, Sara Lee, and Green Giant/Pillsbury, and he retired from Cytec Fiberite in 2004. Following retirement, Don continued to work as a human resources consultant and officially retired on May 15th of this year from PlastiComp, Inc. His strong work ethic was something he instilled in his children, too. Although his work was important, Don's family always came first. When their children were young they enjoyed taking vacations together including one to the Badlands, Colorado, and to Disney World in 1976. Don was there for every family function, even if it required traveling. Christmas was a highlight every year since Don didn't have much as a child. He certainly spoiled his family with gifts! He and Nancy traveled quite a bit. In fact, they have been to every continent except Antarctica. They went on their first cruise for their 25th wedding anniversary and have been on several cruises since, including their most recent one in 2012 prior to Don's diagnosis. They recently earned a pin for traveling 20,000 nautical miles! Don was thrilled beyond measure to become a grandfather, and spending time with his grandchildren was a favorite activity. They took their grandchildren for one-on-one weekend trips when they did things like visit the Children's Museum in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Lark Toys in Kellogg, Minnesota, and the Eagle Center in Wabasha in addition to numerous other adventures. Of course they spoiled their grandchildren, but they also required that they do chores while there. In April in 1989, they moved to Winona, Minnesota, where they remained in the same home on Pleasant Hill Drive for over 25 years. Don was very involved in the community there as he was on the board of ORC, Sauer Memorial Home, Winona State University, involved with the tech schools and also with Central Lutheran Church among others. While living in Illinois, Don worked with a large Hispanic population where several people had less than a 10th grade education. As a result, he worked hard to initiate a literacy program. While in Winona, Don also enjoyed his coffee groups at McDonald's and HyVee, and when he couldn't get there anymore he hosted the group in his home with Nancy's chocolate chip cookies. When diagnosed with cancer, it was easy to see what an amazing man Don was. He faced what came his way with both strength and courage and declaring three things: he would remain positive, he would trust the medical team, and that he knew God had a plan for him. In response to a recent email that Nancy sent out on his behalf entitled, "Goodbye from Don," the responses came flooding in. He loved when his family read these to him at his bedside. Caring, generous, and eternally optimistic, Donald Schneider lived a life of purpose while holding his loved ones near. He was a master negotiator who especially loved haggling over vehicles, and he had the most amazing ability of reading people. Don loved traveling, being part of his community, and all things cars, but it was his family that always held the biggest piece of his heart. He will never be forgotten. Donald John Schneider, of Winona, died Tuesday, June 9, 2015. Don's family includes his wife, Nancy Schneider of Winona; children, Kevin (Anne) Schneider of Marion, IA and Ellen (Robert) Banish of Silver Lake, WI; grandchildren, Benjamin Schneider of Charleston, SC, Lauren Schneider of Marion, IA, Mitchell Schneider of Iowa City, IA, Amber Banish of Silver Lake, WI and twins Joseph and Victor Banish of Silver Lake, WI; sisters, Lorraine (Wendell) Crotty of Cedar Falls, IA and Dorothy (Alvin) Eggena of Denver, IA. Don was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Lavern (Helen) Schneider. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 5-7 p.m., Friday, June 12, 2015 at Hoff Celebration of Life Center in Goodview. Memorial service will be 11 a.m., Saturday, June 13, 2015, at Central Lutheran Church with visitation one hour prior. Reverend Wade E. Davick will be officiating. Please share a memory of Don with his family, view the video tribute, and read his complete life story at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/603964