John "Jack"E. Schneider

John "Jack" E. Schneider, 75, Green Bay, passed away peacefully, Sunday, October 21, 2012. He was born October 29, 1936, at St. Mary's Hospital in Green Bay, to the late, Louis and Eileen (Garot) Schneider.
Jack is survived by his wife of 55 yrs, Doris Mae Renier Schneider; son, Steven Jay Schneider, and committed partner, Karen Grunsky, Green Bay; son, David Michael Schneider and dedicated wife, Pamela Vandenhouten Schneider, Green Bay; chosen daughter, Jill Ann Schneider Suri and supportive husband, Moise "Moe" Suri; Atlanta, GA. There are 4 grandchildren, Tyler Schneider (Wausau) and Avery Schneider (UW Oshkosh), and Moise Andreas Suri & Sophia Marie Suri, Atlanta, GA. Jack is further survived by his sister, Judy Seymour, Ft Myers, FL, and many nieces and nephews.
Jack was pre-deceased by his father, Louis M. Schneider; mother, Eileen Garot Schneider; brother, James (Helen) L. Schneider; paternal grandparents, John W. (Dora) Schneider; maternal grandparents, Edward (Sarah "Sadie" Hughes) Garot; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Louis and Evelyn Renier.
Jack felt it was more important that he be remembered as a volunteer than a plumber or contractor. In his mind, anybody can stack stones and connect pipes, but it takes real people, real human beings to give of themselves to be volunteers. Jack is especially proud of the volunteer work he did with the Disabled American Veterans in Green Bay back in the 1990s. Over a 10 year period, he served many deserving veterans, helping transport them from Sturgeon Bay, Green Bay, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan, to the Veteran's Hospital in Milwaukee. Over that time, he made over 100 trips volunteering almost 2,000 hours. He was very proud of that work, as he was ashamed that he had never served his country in the military. He was also very glad he was able to volunteer with the AARP Tax Aide Program in Ft Myers, FL.
Jack also served as a volunteer driver for the American Red Cross in the Green Bay area, and he was able to help the disabled and the needy. He was also a disaster relief volunteer for 3 weeks after Hurricane Katrina. He volunteered for the Meals on Wheels program in Green Bay. Last but not least, he volunteered at Bellin Hospital and the Free Clinic on Chestnut Street in Green Bay.
Jack was known as a bit of a maverick. He did his own thing. He was especially proud he learned how to fly an airplane, rafted the Grand Canyon; visited the Mayan Ruins in Chichen Itza and other places that really interested him especially the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. He would drive 500 miles out of his way to see a Frank Lloyd Wright house.
He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1954 and graduated from St Norbert's College in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science - Business Administration with minors in economics and philosophy.
Doris & Jack were married at St. Philip Catholic Church on August 24, 1957. Doris and Jack formed a formidable team. Jack was very thankful that Doris was the strong leader of the team. She was the stay at home mom who dedicated her life to her children and grandchildren. She was there day in and day out, up and down, even fostering 11 children while Jack was tending to the business. Jack is eternally thankful for all her hard work. Doris had her priorities straight. She always kept family first. He did believe in what he was doing, and he thought it was important to honor his mother's and father's wishes to continue on in the family-owned business. Jack is especially proud of initiating an action, along with his good friend, Andy Tweet, Jr. It was their conversations and the result of a couple memorandums of understanding. The deal was done and Tweet-Garot Mechanical, Inc. was born with a simple handshake and a mutual respect of two people who believed and trusted in one another.
Jack is especially proud that he was part of a great tradition that will continue on. He is very happy that both of his sons continue to work at the business. Tweet-Garot Mechanical, Inc. is the premier plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and ventilation contractor in this part of Wisconsin. Andy Tweet Jr.'s son-in-law, Timothy Howald, stepped in upon Andy's passing and has run this business adeptly and helped it continue to grow into the success it is today. There are many projects which could be noted, but the list is endless. Let it be said all of the hospitals and many of the manufacturing facilities were the strong suits of the firm, and we were especially proud that we were able to contribute to the erection of almost every building in Green Bay and the surrounding areas, including stadiums, colleges, universities, etc.
Jack was a proud 55 year member of the Local Union 298/Local 400. It is the United Association of Plumbers & Steamfitters. He was indentured in 1957 as a plumber apprentice, and he graduated in 1962. He became a master plumber in 1965, and the rest is history.
Jack's hobbies are many and varied. Jack really enjoyed playing cards and enjoyed his golf. Nobody will ever accuse Jack of being a very good golfer; in fact Jack knew he was a hacker. He was always a hacker, and always will be a hacker. Even in heaven, with a 60 or 70 yard advantage, he will still be a hacker, but he enjoyed the game, camaraderie, sportsmanship, golf etiquette, coming together with the guys and women who enjoyed a mutual benefit from playing with each other. So let it be said Jack's golf game left much to be desired. He played with the Lochmoor group called the Duffers down at Lochmoor Country Club in Ft Myers, FL, and he played with many other groups over the years. He even got a hole in one, but everybody knows that's more luck than skill.
Really the cards and the golf worked together many times. The card games were an integral part of Jack's life from early on. Jack remembers sitting on his aunt's and uncle's laps at the old Schneider residence in downtown Green Bay, learning the game of Shaskup or Sheepshead from aunts and uncles and Grandmas & Grandpas, counting the points, knowing the trump, but all the time waiting for the chance for when an adult had to go to the bathroom and Jack got to play a hand with his real live heroes. So, he enjoyed the Shaskup, then later on with his high school and college buddies, the poker games, the endless, endless Shaskup and poker games at St. Norberts, and later during the contractor conventions, there were many craps and poker games. Never let it be said that Jack would pass up a card game.
Jack's Mantra: "Count your blessings. We do have much to be thankful for." Jack always counted his blessings. We all complain once in a while, but maybe we shouldn't. We have freedoms here in the United States that are incomparable to any place in the world, and we should count our blessings every day. Make sure to compliment a veteran any time you see them, especially the new young veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. They are the ones who make it possible for us to have the daily freedoms. They allow us to express ourselves in a meaningful way and not have our heads shot off because we have opinions contrary to the leadership of the nation. Thank a veteran. They are the backbone of this country!
Family and friends may call Thursday, October 25, 2012, at Newcomer Funeral Home, 340 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay, from 4:30pm until 7:00pm with a parish prayer service at 7:00pm. Visitation will continue on Friday at St. Willebrord Catholic Church, 209 S. Adams St., Green Bay, from 1:30pm until 2:30pm. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday at St. Willebrord Catholic Church, at 2:30pm with Rev. Andrew G. Cribben O.Praem. officiating. Inurnment will be in Allouez Chapel Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Jack's name for Unity Hospice, Green Bay, WI.