Richard J. Schneider, Sr., formerly of Stockbridge and Jackson, MI, passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, October 2, 2022, at the age of 99. He was born on May 4, 1923, in Flatrock, MI, the oldest son of the late Joseph and Ruey (Spitler) Schneider.
Richard proudly served during World War II in the US Army, where he was lucky enough to celebrate V-J Day in Times Square in New York City. On March 30, 1946, he married W. Jeannette Osburn. They were married for 72 years prior to her death in August of 2018.
Richard grew up in and around the Ypsilanti, MI area, where he and his brothers shared many adventures typical of the time, including floating down the Huron River in homemade boats and building and rebuilding cars.
His career led him through a variety of life experiences including being a top salesman at J.L. Hudson, working for Boeing Air while living in CA, and as a machinist for Ford Motor Company where he retired in the late 70’s.
In 1973, he and Jeannette moved from Ypsilanti to Stockbridge, MI, where they owned and operated Schneider’s Adult Foster Care Home. After his retirement from Ford Motor Co., he operated Dick’s Boat Rental on Four Mile Lake for 17 years, where his grandchildren fondly remember him always sneaking them candy bars.
Never one to sit idle, he worked into his early eighties for the Pierce Lake Golf Course in Chelsea. He was very involved in the First Baptist Church of Stockbridge, where he faithfully served as a Deacon and later, Deacon Emeritus. During retirement, you could also find him enjoying a game of golf, spending winters in Florida, and traveling around the country with Jeannette. He was a lifelong learner who loved to read and watch history on TV. He loved to stay busy, and you could often find him in his garage tinkering or mowing the lawn on his beloved John Deere mower.
He is survived by three of children, Patricia Estus of Melbourne, FL, Allison Gulledge of Durham, NC, and Andrew (Jeanne) Schneider of Jackson; nine grandchildren, Ty (Ashley) Estus, Lindsey (Aaron) Hines, Katrina Cooley, Zechariah Schneider, Noah (Lauren) Schneider and Michele Svetkovich; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeannette, son and daughter-in-law, Richard, Jr. (Robin) Schneider, son-in-law, Donn Estus; a granddaughter, Destiny Schneider; and his siblings, Hilda Smith, Verna Wright, Marion “Bud” Schneider, and Lowell Schneider.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. from the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge. Burial will follow at Brookside Cemetery in Tecumseh, MI. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Crossroads Community Church, 950 S. Clinton St., Stockbridge, MI 49285.
The family would like to express appreciation to the Mebane Ridge Assisted Living Community and their staff (Mebane, NC) for their loving care and support during the last year.
