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Leo Schneider
February 25, 1932 - March 7, 2014
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On Thursday March 6th, 2014, Mr. Leo Albert Schneider of Osoyoos passed away at the South Okanagan General Hospital after a short battle with cancer at the age of 82 years.
He was predeceased by his parents David and Hilda Schneider of Keremeos; sisters Idella (Robert) Spoonemore and Margaret Bauer; sister-in-law Noreen Schneider and brother-in-law Michael Ferko.
Leo will be fondly remembered by his loving family including wife Ilona (nee Anderson) of 41 years; children David (Maggie) of Calgary; Leonie Lawrence (Gordon) of Campbell River; Mark (Shara Lee) of Lethbridge; step-son Wayne Gardener (Nancy) of Mount Vernon, WA; and all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Leo’s is survived by siblings Wilmer Schneider of Keremeos; Betty Schwager (Ken) of Penticton; Gordon Schneider of Granisle; Shirley (Jim) Lea of New Westminster; Violet Ferko of West Kelowna; Jean Byer (Jim) of Cawston; Clarence Schneider (Sharon) of Cawston and Kenny Schneider (Gwen) of Grand Forks as well as Brother-in-law Gordon Bauer of West Kelowna and the many nieces and nephews.
Leo worked in various mines in the Similkameen, Merritt and Northern parts of BC for seventeen years before joining Interior Contracting in Penticton as a pipe layer and driller. He and wife Ilona then farmed for twenty years in Falkland, raising cattle and growing hay. In the latter twelve years, they built and operated a Broiler Chicken farm. After the sale of the broiler farm in 1993, Leo and Ilona retired and enjoyed travelling with his siblings and nephews to Reno and places for a little fun and relaxation. He also had time to go fishing and hunting for the elusive moose with the family “guys”. He was a great lover of nature and felt his spiritual beliefs revolved around nature.
For one term, he was the Falkland area representative for the Salmon Arm-Shuswap Regional District and a member/grower of the Interior Broiler (chickens) Association.
Curling was a hobby in which he engaged, helping his Falkland Men’s Team win a number of local trophies. Later he played in the Seniors Fun League in Penticton. Leo and Ilona recently relocated to Osoyoos, ever moving southward since retirement.
He was a quiet, sensitive, caring individual who was well loved by his family and respected by many friends.
Donations are gratefully accepted to the Canadian Cancer Society for continued research in prostate and bone cancer or to a charity of choice.
Thank you to Drs. Crofts, and Entwistle and in particular the staff at South Okanagan General Hospital for their attentive and empathetic care of Leo.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday March 29, 2014 at the Keremeos Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 2:00 P.M. at the Cawston Hall.
Condolences may be directed to Ilona. Tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com
Arrangements entrusted to Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service & Crematorium, Oliver & Osoyoos.
Condolences
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From: Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service Staff
Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service Staff send our condolences to family and friends.
From: David & Maggie Schneider
Relation: Son & Daughter-in-law
Dad, we loved you & will miss you so much. Many great memories to keep of you & I when we were hunting, fishing & just talking. Just never thought you’d go so soon. Condolences to Ilona on her loss of you. You were loved and respected by all who knew you & your gentle nature. God Bless You Dad. Forever in our hearts & minds forever. Dave & Maggie
From: Lori McLean
Relation: Uncle by marriage to my Aunt Yvonne
So sad to hear of Leo’s passing. Sending heartfelt condolences to all the family.
From: Blake Logan
Relation: Acquaintance
My deepest sympathy to Ilona and family, I knew Leo as a customer when I worked at a Chevron station in Vernon in the ’70’s.. he was a very kind and wonderful person, one I would have wanted as a friend..
From: FRED AND KAREN STRECHENIUK
Relation: FRIEND
WE WERE VERY SADDENED TO READ IN THIS MORNING’S PAPER, OF LEO’S PASSING. ILONA, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU. WE WILL REMEMBER LEO AS SUCH A “GENTLE”MAN. FRED AND KAREN STRECHENIUK
From: lynne collins
Relation: Worked with Ilona at BMO
Ilona so sorry to hear about Leo, you are lucky, you have 41 years of memories. Lynne
From: Lianna Jones
Relation: From Falkland
Dear IIona Schneider and family,
I was very sorry to hear of your loss. For the very short time I had met both Leo and yourself it was life changing for me and every member of my family.
Over twenty years ago I purchased a house in Falkland from you, 5707 Scott Rd. It was a momentous memory for me. Leo was kind, patient and very understanding throughout a big move for myself and my 4 year old son. Not knowing how house sales were conducted Leo shook my hand and we agreed on a very fair price. The purchase took longer than expected but Leo made a deal with me and he stuck to it. It has since been one of my most favorite stories to retell how I bought this fabulous loving house on a hand shake from a very wonderful family.
I wanted to let you how many lives this house has affected. I remarried and over the years my husband and myself raised 5 children of our own and shared the house with 22 foster children. I also had a pre-school in the house for several years with many little ones running in and out of the doors.
To this day we still share the home with young teens with intellectual disabilities as well as a gentleman who also has a disability who lives here full time.
Many stories, laughter, love and some heartbreak have passed through this house over the years.
My family thanks you and I thank you for the wonderful life we have lived and shared in the home we bought from you.
My very sincere sympathies, Leo will be fondly remembered in my heart and in this house.
Lianna Jones ( Mathieson ) and family
From: Linda Prevost (Lim)
Relation: worked at BMO and became friends
It has been a long time since we saw you and Leo, but every time we drive through lFalkland, we look over from the highway at the Ranch you and Leo started and remember fondly the visits we had there.
All the best to you and your family.
Edward and Linda Prevost
From: Wayne Gardener
Relation: Step-son
Leo Albert Schneider walked into my mother’s and my life in 1972.
His luck with my mother was one thing but the poor guy strolled right headlong into a young man entering his teen years. To say it was daunting for him must have been an understatement. If you know Leo though, you also know he’s not scared of much.
The day after we lost Leo, Raymond and Karen Schwager visited us at Mom’s. The conversation moved to remembering the man and eventually Karen asked us if anyone had ever seen Leo angry. My Mom and I both looked at each other and started laughing immediately. We had visited that exact question that morning. I said “you remember that time I had pushed and pushed and pushed you into a corner over some thing that seemed important to me at the time until you were exasperated beyond words any longer”. When it reached the boiling point I saw a blur come from one side and had a hand around me a nanosecond later. It was not the physical act of coming to Mom’s aid, it was the LOOK. It was the only time I ever saw Leo angry and it was the last time I ever wanted to see it!
As the years rolled by and I finally grew up and had a family of my own, we grew together even though geographical distance made visits harder, it made the visits that much more special. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.
I can’t remember exactly when I dropped the step from step-dad but it was a natural thing to do with the man. This is not meant to diminish David, Leonie and Mark in any way. It is in this spirit that I thank them for sharing this man with me.
I will never forget our trip to the desert southwest. I will never forget the look on his face as he gazed out at the Canyonlands or the boyish excitement of seeing the Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde, Colorado and knowing he was going to walk through the pristine cliff dwellings. I will never forget my day of hiking that resulted in a nasty little fall and a pretty good bloody scrape-up in a canyon and him saying “Oh, that’s a good one, should be alright though!”
If you knew Leo, you knew he was a loving man but not in an ostentatious manner. This wasn’t his way. But when you were with him you knew you were loved. The more you gave, the more you got back. Leo was humble, generous and loved to laugh. Family and friends were everything to him. This was the backbone of the man.
Leo was Grandpa and Dad to us and he made our world so much richer. Leo was one of my best friends and I don’t have many. Above all, he was the light in my mom’s world. He will be missed more than words can ever convey.
Wayne Gardener, for the Gardener family, Nancy and Crystal.
From: Dan and Milly Mulholland and family
Relation: life-long friends
We were privileged to know Leo for over 40 years.His warm and caring personality made it easy to develop our special friendship. We had known Ilona for several years prior to her meeting Leo and were ever so pleased that she had found the perfect mate. Over the years we enjoyed many vacations together, ski trips, camping trips, and each others’ special family occasions. Leo’s culinary expertise was always amazing; whether low key or fancy, it was always absolutely delicious. Leo had developed many skills over his lifetime and was always a great asset to have in any group–hunting, fishing, or building another house, he will be truly missed.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
Date & Time:
March 29, 2014
Beginning at 12:27am
Location:
Keremeos Cemetery & Cawston Hall
Keremeos, BC Canada
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday March 29, 2014 at the Keremeos Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 2:00 P.M. at the Cawston Hall.
Keremeos, BC Canada
Memorial Gifts
The family has not designated a preferred charity at this time.
Thank You Notice
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