Richard "Rich" Alan Schneider
September 21, 1959 – October 25, 2024
Richard Alan Schneider was born to John and Joen (Romanowicz) Schneider on September 21, 1959 in Milwaukee, WI. He spent his early years in Butler where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, playing hockey and various made up games with his buddies. He attended Hamilton High School in Sussex where he enjoyed playing football and baseball. It was there in his senior year that he met the love of his life, Susan (Schlei) who was his corner partner in square dancing in gym class. Rich would endure sitting through band practices just to see Sue.
The two would be inseparable from that time on over the next 47 years. Rich was a member of the Sussex Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for ten years. He played on several baseball leagues in the Sussex area. Sue and Rich were married on August 22, 1981 and were blessed with two son’s – Daniel (Kathy Chen) and Jeffrey. Later years they had the joy of adding a daughter Brittany to complete their family. From there four grandchildren would become the most important thing in their lives, Alessandra (Davis), Grayson (Davis), Abraham and Max (Schneider Chen).
Rich coached kids in football, baseball and hockey while living in Phillips, WI and even coached several years after his own children were grown. He worked as a machinist tool and die maker and opened an archery store in Prentice WI for several years. Hunting and fishing were his passions and he spent lots of time with Sue doing just that. In 2012 along with Eric Wilund they began J&J Guide Service, Living the Dream Outdoors LLC in Ekalaka, Montana. From there the business would grow to four camps throughout Montana. It was that passion, his genuine love of what he was doing and his wanting all the hunters to feel like they were at home that helped that business become successful. Rich judged the success by the lifelong friendships he made while guiding the hunters. These friends have become more like family. And he always wanted the ranchers he worked with to know how very special and important they were to us and that it was a privilege to use their land. This all could not have been done without some amazing guides.
It was the adventures with family and friends that were most important to Rich. Along with his friends they were the “Tiddly Wink Champions!” He spent wonderful days hunting in Iola, and Park Falls with his father and friends. Rich and Sue along with all their children spent time in Hawaii. And they had a trip of a lifetime to New Zealand. And the special memorable people – family that we spent time were among the best days, Marjorie (Schlei), Lynn (Craig) Wallace, Tom (Heidi) Schlei, Howard (Robin) Schlei, Edith (Bill) Schwartz), Mark (Vlad) Schlei, Lynn & Cindi Heemeyer, Jeff and Jeannette Spotts.
Rich was bigger than life, he was funny, caring, generous, the first one to help. He was a favorite Uncle. Along with Sue they were Mr. and Mrs. Santa for the nursing home, day care and visited elderly residents. He was the silly PopPop who would dress up at a bakery to surprise his grandkids, or surprise them with pizza as a delivery man. He was ready to play games and read stories. Snuggling with his grandchildren was his favorite thing to do. After seeing a play and lunch with his little grandson’s Rich went to a favorite spot that he had hunted since he was a child in Iola, WI to begin a few days of hunting. It was there he passed away peacefully on Friday, October 25, 2024 with a view of the woods and heavens that he Loved.
