Michael J. Schneider

Michael Johannes Schneider, beloved father, grandfather, partner, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 21, 2025 at the age of 82. He was humble and kind, with a constant smile and an odd penchant for Olympic grade dad jokes and cold truth. Born in Germany in 1942, Michael grew up in the shadow of war, a period of devastation and hardship that informed his sense of practical frugality and, in a deeper sense, an instinctive conviction against exclusion and its inherent violence. The oldest of four siblings, he was an altar boy, he liked cars, he enjoyed travel, and he wanted to live in the U.S.

He moved to the United States in 1967, taking a position at a travel agency in Fort Wayne, Indiana. From there, he moved on to San Francisco, where he met his wife, Adelpha, and together they welcomed sons, Erik and Mark. Mark died as an infant, a loss that deeply impacted Michael and Adelpha. Soon after, they had Udo. A job with LTU airlines brought the family to Los Angeles in 1985. Tragedy struck again in 1991 when Adelpha died suddenly of a brain aneurysm, leaving him a single father of two young boys. He tried his best to raise Erik and Udo, committed to providing stability, opportunity, and education for the boys.

Michael spent much of his life after Adelpha’s passing in the companionship of his longtime partner, Silvia Traughber, who he traveled the world with and whose presence brought love, steadiness, and companionship into his later years.

Although he spent most of his life in California and raised his children there, Michael coincidentally returned to Indiana in his final years to live near his son and grandchildren, finding great happiness in being close to family and sharing in their daily lives. He followed world events closely throughout his life, reflecting the curiosity and global perspective shaped by his work in the travel industry.

Quiet, private, and humble, Michael found joy in knowing that the people he loved were happy. He had simple routines, and he enjoyed his naps. His generosity was often unseen but deeply felt, from small everyday kindnesses to quietly helping those in need.

He is survived by his sons, Erik (Laura) and Udo (Jaclyn); his grandchildren, Marko, Luke, Lucia, and Greta; his longtime partner, Silvia; and his siblings in Germany, Lissi and Stefan. He was preceded in death by his wife, Adelpha; his infant son, Mark; his sister, Heidi; and his parents, Dr. Karl Schneider and Dr. Trude Abmeier.

Michael will be remembered for his quiet generosity, his stoicism, and the selfless way he put others before himself. May his memory be a blessing.