Mr. Frank J. Schneider

Frank Schneider, 81, passed away December 6 at the St. Joseph Campus, Mission Hospital, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). He was the son of the late Amelia Kalstorf and Dan Schneider of Monona, Iowa. Surviving are his wife, Cheryl of the home, daughter, Heidi Bannerman (Scott), Raleigh, and son, Jim Schneider, Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Kellen Reif, Raleigh, Shelby Bannerman, Raleigh, and Skylar Schneider, Dousman, Wisconsin. Surviving also are brothers, Fred Schneider, Sutter Home, CA, and Bob Schneider, Rathdrum, Idaho. Frank Graduated from Minnesota State Univ., Mankato, Minnesota, in 1960. After 2 years of service in the Army, he then began his career as a chemical engineer with Lockheed before beginning his long association with Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, CA, then McDonnell Douglas (later, Boeing) Space Systems Division, Huntington Beach, CA. In 1982, he was hired by Northrop as a Composite Specialist to develop materials and pioneer low observable technology for the B2 Bomber program. It was there that he was awarded Northrop’s Engineer of the Year award. He returned to Boeing at their Helicopter Company, Mesa, AZ, in 1990, staying until his retirement in 1998. Daughter Heidi’s move to NC brought Frank and Cheryl to the beautiful mountains of Asheville in 2006. He enjoyed everything about the area, especially the warmth and welcoming nature of friends and neighbors—particularly his walking buddies. The family wishes to thank Dr. Brooks, at the Carolina Neuromuscular ALS-MDA Center, Charlotte; Care Partners Home Health, Asheville; VA Medical Center Home Health and Dr. Zeitman and staff at the VA Hospital for their kind and compassionate care. A Celebration of Frank’s Life will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 13 at Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville. Interment will be held at the Veteran’s Cemetery, Raleigh, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes contributions be made to the ALS Association, Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter, Asheville; Care Partners, Asheville; or the Charles George VA Medical Center.

Tributes

Mr. Frank J. Schneider

April 6, 1933 - December 6, 2014