William George Schneider

Bill was born to the late Irvin and Rosaleen (Beisel) Schneider on December 11, 1939 in Wellington County, Ontario.

Bill was the eldest of seven children and grew up on a working, family farm. One of his most valued recollections from that time was the hospitality that was offered to strangers and neighbours alike in their community. He also valued his education and after graduating from Drayton High School, he enrolled in the inaugural year of the Engineering program at the University of Waterloo in 1957. He started his professional life at Orenda Engines in Mississauga where he also met and married Lynda Ursaki in 1965. Soon after, they started their family and relocated to Cambridge where Bill began his 37-year career at Babcock & Wilcox doing pioneering work in the area of nuclear steam generators. His leisure time was spent skiing, sailing and meticulously restoring the famly’s heritage home. In his later years, his grandchildren were a great source of inspiration and joy for him.

Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lynda, and their children Lesli, Jayne, Michael and his spouse, Cindy, as well as their grandchildren, Andrew, Madelyn and Hope. He is also survived by his siblings and their spouses, Elgin and Alice, Earl and Anne, Earla Atkinson, John and Aggie. He was predeceased by his sister Eva Martin and her spouse, Stan Martin; his brother Gregg and his spouse Donna and George Atkinson, husband to his sister Earla.

The family will gather for a small, private service this winter. A celebration of life memorial will be announced in the spring and open to all. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation.