Joseph "Mike" Schneider

Joseph Michael "Mike" Schneider , 81, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and enjoying his favorite Frank Sinatra music, on August 2, 2013, at The Concierge in Houston, Texas. Mike was born December 18, 1931 in Aberdeen, Washington, to Joseph and Vera Schneider. He graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1954, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. It was there that he met the love of his life, Joanne, they married and recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary in 2013, a true love story.

Mike served as an officer in the Air Force from 1955-1957, stationed at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, California. In 1957, he joined Shell Oil Company where he worked until his retirement in 1991. His employment took him from Seattle, Washington to San Francisco, California to New York City and finally to Houston, Texas in 1970 where he remained despite the heat and mosquitos.

Mike was a consummate family man who loved long car trips in the summer and always being the baseball coach throughout the years. He was a permanent fixture at Memorial Ashford Little League from '71-'85, coaching, keeping the fields in order and generally running the place. He passed on his hysterical dry sense of humor to his children and entertained everyone around him with his joyful love of life. He was a very structured and athletic man but always had room for one cocktail before dinner and would never say no to dessert. His penchant for the non traditional playing of Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley and other Texas honky tonk music during Thanksgiving meals will forever be a cherished memory. Mike spent his retirement years visiting his children and grandchildren and traveling with his wife anywhere a cruise ship could take them.

Mike is survived by his wife, Joanne; daughter Suzanne Sherman and husband Louis; son Greg Schneider and wife Mary; and grandchildren Michael Hecht, Julia Hecht, Gretchen Schneider, Abby Schneider, Emme Schneider and Sophie Skye Schneider, all of Houston. He is also preceded in death by his son, Paul Schneider. He is also survived by his church family of many, many years at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church.

The family would like to thank the staff of The Concierge, staff at New Century Hospice and to his devoted caregivers Joeann, Yolanda, Latosha, Laura and Mickey who gave him many hours of love and care. A memorial service will be held for Mike at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, 14200 Memorial Drive on Thursday, August 8 at 10:30am. The family will have a private graveside service. Memorials may be made to Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, the Lewy Body Dementia Association, the Parkinson's Disease Foundation or an organization of your choice.