Hugh SCHNEIDER

SCHNEIDER, Hugh John
March 12, 1940 - June 7, 2012
On June 7, 2012, surrounded by his family, Hugh John Schneider of Edmonton, AB, formerly of Leduc, AB passed away peacefully at the age of 72 years. Hugh faced cancer as he did everything in life, head first and with a positive attitude.
Hugh is survived by his wife, Penny Hamilton; son, David (Heather) of Edmonton; daughter, Karen (Scott) Mclean of West Kelowna; five grandchildren, Melissa, Jessica and Eric Schneider, Greg and Jamie McLean; siblings, Marie (John) Kobylnyk, Larry (Edythe), Stan (Carol), Doug (Bev), Carol (Ray) Thomas, Ann (Richard) Karbonik, Sharon (Charlie) Trefanenko, Janice Raitz, Marilyn (Glen) Yaremko. He was predeceased by his dad, George in 1956; brother, Grant in 2008 and mother, Esther (Lansing) in 2011.
Hugh was the first son of Esther and George Schneider and lived on the family farm in Spring Lake District near Daysland Alberta. In 1945 George moved the family to Leduc where he opened Schneider's Hardware. When George died leaving Esther with 11 children, Hugh took over the business at age 16. This would unwittingly be the beginning of a long illustrious career for Hugh. After running several successful lumberyards including Foremost, Provost and numerous yards in the Edmonton area he returned to Leduc in 1987 where he opened Schneider's Building Supplies. He had a huge heart and his generosity was boundless. He gave quietly where it counted and without fanfare.
Hugh had an insatiable passion for learning that continued until the day he died. He had an aptitude and an uncanny memory for facts and figures. He attended the Banff School of Advanced Management. He was interested in history, but foremost, the people that were making the history, and he always had a book on the go.
Hugh's sense of adventure took him to many places including The Orient, African safari, a Mission in South America, Australia, a tour of the Nile, the countryside and major cities in Europe, several cruises and bike tours. His happiest places included reading the newspaper in the sun whether it be on a lanai in Hawaii, on the patio at his home in Phoenix or the sunroom at home in Edmonton.
Curling was in Hugh's blood. He began curling in Leduc as a teenager and was a fixture at the rink for more than 50 years. Hugh's grandchildren were his pride and he had a special bond with each of them.
Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, June 13 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, 210 Haddow Close (23 Avenue and Terwillegar Drive), Edmonton with Reverend Michael McCaffery officiating. Cremation to follow. Interment of the urn in St. Anthony's Cemetery at a later date.
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