Cleo Schneider

Cleo James Schneider was born on a Monday, August 8, 1927 in the family home in Hamilton County, Texas, the youngest of seven children born to Charles August and Anna Amelia Sager Schneider. He was baptized into the Christian faith on October 9, 1927 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aleman, Texas by Pastor E.F. Moerbe. He was confirmed in this faith on December 28, 1941 at St. John Lutheran Church in Hamilton, Texas by Pastor H.H. Quitmeyer. His Confirmation Verse is Revelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. Cleo attended the public schools of Hamilton, playing quarterback on the football team and graduating from Hamilton High School in 1945. He enlisted in the United States Navy, serving during the postwar times in The Philippine Islands and helping to print the Navy Newspaper. He was honorably discharged August 20, 1946. Longing to be a farmer but not wanting to farm the rocky pastureland of Hamilton County, Cleo moved with his parents to Hillsboro, Texas September 22, 1947. His brother Bob wrote to say that he had found a good place to farm south of Hillsboro - good, rich, black land - the old Alfrey place. Cleo poured his life into the farm, receiving what the Good Lord gave him and making a life for himself and his future family. Cleo and his parents became loyal and faithful members of Christ Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, meeting at the time in the lobby of The Hill Hotel, where the present Post Office is now located. Cleo later served the congregation as Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent, Elder, and Walther League Youth Counselor. Cleo was introduced to Juanita Frances Margaret Schmidt of Malone, Texas. The two quickly fell in love and were married on Saturday, August 6, 1949 at Christ Lutheran, Hillsboro ? the first couple to be married in the newly-refurbished military chapel that became the congregation's permanent house of worship. To this union, four children were born: Curtis, Donald, Phyllis, and Susan. Cleo and his family worked hard in the fields on the farm, never afraid to try new methods. Cleo and Juanita seldom took a vacation outside of visiting family in Malone, Lamesa, Big Spring, Odessa, and Fort Worth, but later in life traveled with other farmers to Spain and later St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands, and twice to Hawaii. Cleo James Schneider was born again to Eternal Life following a brief illness at 5:30 p.m. on Monday June 15, 2009 at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas at the age of 81 years. He is survived by beloved wife of 59 years, Juanita Schneider; his children, the Rev. Curtis Schneider and wife, Judy, of Brownwood, Texas, Don Schneider, Phyllis Cunningham, and Susan Perry and husband, Bill, all of Hillsboro; 12 grandchildren: Jeremy Schneider and wife, Cheryl, Jessica Shelton and husband, Matt, Katy Dailey and husband, Gianni LeCornu, Jared Dailey and wife, Kristin, Jeffrey Schneider, Meredith Beyer and husband, Dr. Andrew Beyer, Jonathan Cunningham, Jameson Perry, Lyndsey Pederson and husband, Mark, Julie Schneider, Kaitlin Perry, and Bryan Schneider; 5 great-grandchildren: Ava LeCornu, Brenna Shelton, Roman LeCornu, Reed Schneider, and Claire Schneider; and numerous cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. Cleo was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Bob, Bill, and Charlie; his sisters Hattie, Esther, and Ruth, and by his daughter-in-law Debbie Schneider. His pastor, the Rev. Michael Nemec, will officiate at the service. Pallbearers are his grandsons and other members of his extended family: Jeremy Schneider, Matt Shelton, Jonathan Cunningham, Jameson Perry, Mark Pederson, and Bryan Schneider. Memorials may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 915 Corsicana Hwy, Hillsboro, TX 76645.