Robert William Schneider

1930 - 2017

Robert William Schneider

East Lansing - Robert "Bob" William Schneider, 87, passed away with his beloved wife, Margaret "Peg" McInnis, R.N., at his side on Friday, December 1. Born in Manhattan, New York in 1930, Bob attended Cardinal Hayes High School, and graduated from Manhattan College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Upon graduation, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean War. He continued in the Air National Guard and retired as Lieutenant Colonel with a combined 23 years of military service. While serving at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, he met his wife, Peg. Bob and Peg would later move to Battle Creek, MI where he was a Civil Engineer for Post Cereal. They later settled in East Lansing, MI when Bob accepted a position at Michigan State University. Bob departed as Director of Special Projects for the MSU Development Fund for a position at University of Michigan as Director of Development for the College of Engineering. Always a fair man, he worked for each university for 16 years, retiring in 1992. Bob enjoyed travelling, making stops throughout the U.S., Germany, China, Italy and Bermuda. Further satisfying his travel itch, Bob took up a second career of driving across the state for AVIS Rental for 15 years. Bob was an avid reader with an impressive vocabulary in English and German. He looked forward to Friday morning breakfast group with friends and was recognized as a man of strong faith. He was committed to service through St. Thomas Aquinas, The American Red Cross, St Vincent De Paul and Knights of Columbus - 4th degree. Bob will be dearly missed and remembered in prayer by his wife of 64 years, Peg; sons Bob (AnnMarie), Rich (Christine), Bill, and Tom (Michelle); grandchildren, Carly (Jeff) Bellairs, Grady, Casey, Danielle (Giles), James and Jordan; as well as his brother, Carl, who resides in Riverhead, New York.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in Bob's memory to St. Vincent DePaul Charities of St. Thomas Aquinas, or the Parish, 955 Alton Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823 or Greater Lansing Food Bank, P.O. Box 16224, Lansing MI 48901. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday at 11 am at St. Thomas Aquinas Church , 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 5 pm to 8 pm at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 1730 E. Grand River Avenue, E. Lansing and on Thursday and one hour prior at the church. A scripture service will be prayed at 7:30 pm Wednesday.

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman East Lansing.

On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com