In Memory
Rev Henry Schneider
- Birth
-
McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska, USA
- Death
- 19 Sep 2012 (aged 93)
Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana, USA
- Burial
-
Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana, USA
REVEREND HENRY SCHNEIDER, beloved husband, father and grandfather, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, at Bonaventure. He was 93 years old.
Henry was born Feb. 14, 1919, in McCook, Neb., to George and Barbara (Washenfelder) Schneider. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. Henry graduated from McCook Senior High School and then attended Yankton College and Yankton College of Theology in South Dakota. He received his BA degree, Cum Laude in 1943 and his Bachelor of Theology Degree in 1944.
On June 11, 1944, Henry was united in marriage with Marian Nagel. His brother the Rev. Fred Schneider officiated. They were later blessed with two wonderful children, Joan and Gerald.
Henry was ordained into the Christian ministry by the Montana Association of German Background Congregational churches. Henry and Marian served churches in Colorado and Nebraska and Montana. Their first church was the Ebenezer Congregational Church in Sidney.
Through their years of ministry, they always worked together as a "team." With God's Blessing every church grew in number of members and in Spiritual strength. They were well-known for their duet singing throughout the years.
During World War II, Henry and another minister conducted Sunday afternoon worship services for German Prisoners of War in the prison camp at Sidney. They organized a men's chorus that sang hymns in beautiful harmony. At Scottsbluff, Neb., he served on a committee that helped raise funds to build an indoor swimming pool at the YMCA. At both Sterling, Colo., and Scottsbluff, he was adviser to several Boy Scouts who were striving to attain "Eagle Scout" rank. In Billings, he served on the Board of Directors of Friendship House. He conducted worship services at four of the nursing homes.
In various committees, he served two years as moderator of the General Conference of Congregational Churches of America and four years on the Foreign Missions committee. He was chairman of the Executive Committee which helped negotiate the merger of the General Conference with the United Church of Christ.
In 1966 he was ordered by his physician to change careers. The responsibility of serving a church with almost 1,000 members with no assistant minister or secretary took a toll on his health. The Superintendant of Schools asked Henry to teach German at West High School, which he did for 15 years. At the same time he continued to serve as Interim and Guest Minister, in Congregational churches from Big Timber to the west, Colstrip to the east, and Hardin and Worden to the south. Also during this time, he received his Master's Degree in Education and Literature. He served as judge at many regional high school speech tournaments in Billings. He was contact person between the United Church Pension Boards and Ministerial Annuitants of the Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference of the UCC.
Henry and Marian loved their travels. One summer, after touring Israel, Jordan and Egypt, he compiled a slide picture presentation and wrote a commentary which was shown in West High School World History classes. Also in their years of travel, they visited all 50 states, Europe, The Far East, and took cruises to the Inland Passage and ports of Alaska, Mexico and the Panama Canal.
After retiring from teaching, Henry was active in the Yellowstone Retired Teachers Association and AARP serving in various offices and committees. He served three years as treasurer of Retired Teachers, one year as Vice-President and two years as President of AARP #231. Henry said that it was an honor and pleasure to work together with cooperative and enthusiastic members of these organizations.
Through the years, he translated, without compensation, many German letters that people received for recipients of relief packages sent to Germany and letters sent to Americans who had visited Germany. He translated documents for persons who were searching for their family "roots." Henry was a very gracious, gentlemanly, loving man who lived a true Christian life. He always had a kind word to say to those he encountered in his daily life. He thanked people in various venues for their good work, thoughtfulness, compassion and love they showed to their fellow man.
Henry enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, traveling, fishing and working in his backyard garden and orchard. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, taking pride in and being blessed by his family and his grandchildren.
|