Wayne “Jack” Schneider, age 85 of Jasper, Indiana, passed away at 4:20 a.m. on Sunday, January 22, 2017 in Carmel, Indiana.
Jack was born in Jasper, Indiana on December 24, 1931 to Arnold and Anita (Landgrebe) Schneider. He married Josephine Mead on July 13, 1956 in Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Evansville. She preceded him in death on July 22, 2013.
Jack was a 1949 graduate of Jasper High School. As the Sports Editor of the school newspaper the Comet during his senior year, he garnered statewide recognition as the only person to predict the Jasper Wildcat Basketball team’s capture of the 49′ state crown. After attending Indiana University, he began a nearly 20 year career in the newspaper business working primarily as a sportswriter for papers in Greenwood, Evansville, Louisville, Kentucky and Scottsburg.
While in Louisville, he served as the Indiana Sports Editor for the Louisville Times and was the beat writer for Indiana University Football and Basketball. The highlight of his sports writing career was covering the 1967 IU Football team who played in the Rose Bowl Game on January 1, 1968. He traveled with the team to Pasadena. California.
In 1972, he returned to Jasper and became the Director of Public Relations for the Jasper Corporation later known as Kimball International. He retired in 1996 after 24 years with the company.
He was a member and past president of the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, the Jasper Chamber of Commerce, Jasper Band Parents and the Jasper Kiwanis Club. He served as committee chairman for the club’s 50th anniversary celebration in 1986. He also handled publicity for the Dubois County Unit of the American Heart Association and served as Vice President of the unit’s Board of Directors.
He was an avid photographer shooting many areas and features of the Jasper community among others. His favorite target was St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in which he was an active member serving over the years as a Euchristic minister, a lector, a Stephen minister, editor of The Tower publication and was a part of the Liturgy Commission.
In his retirement Jack enjoyed creating and maintaining many flower gardens around his home drawing the attention and compliments from many in the Jasper community.
He and his wife Josephine enjoyed traveling during their golden years, visiting many destinations around the United States and Europe.
He was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, and a close follower of Indiana University Football and Basketball teams as well as Jasper High School Athletics.
Surviving are six daughters; Jackie (Jim) Schultheis, Fishers, IN, Judy (Terry) Kleiser Plainfield, IN, Jennifer (Steve) Braun, Zionsville, IN, Joyce Schneider (Indianapolis), Jane (Matt) Thibodeau, Fishers, Crystal (Brad) Strong Palatine, IL. Three sons; Charlie (Connie) Schneider, Fishers, IN, Craig (Jami) Schneider, and Carey Schneider, both of Jasper.
Twenty Two Grandchildren, and Ten Great-Grandchildren.
One sister, Phyllis Pauley, Indianapolis, and two brothers, Jerry (Jan) Schneider, Holland, IN, and Pat (Virlee) Schneider, Indianapolis.
Preceding him in death besides his wife were one son, Christopher Schneider, one grandson, Ian Sean Schneider-Thomas, and one brother, Fred Schneider.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday January 27, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper, with burial to follow in Fairview Cemetery.
A visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m., on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at the Becher-Kluesner Downtown Chapel in Jasper, IN. A rosary will be prayed at 2:45 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or a favorite charity.
Condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com
