Milford "Mel" C. Schneider, 89, of Lake Leelanau passed away Mon, Jan 27, 2020 at the French Manor of Traverse City.
Mel was born Aug 19, 1930 in Traverse City and was the son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Dufek) Schneider. On Oct 7, 1950 he married Grace Rita Petrosky, who preceded him in death on Feb 26, 2015.
Mel grew up along with his brother, Michael, on Schneider and Sons Dairy Farm in Lake Leelanau, where he learned the value of a hard work ethic, which stayed with him his entire life.
Mel was an avid hunter and fisherman who also enjoyed taxidermy, wood carving, splitstone masonry, and tying flies for fishing. Mel was a "jack of all trades" as he worked on cars, finish carpentry, house painting, tool and die, time study, and was particularly proud of his job as the lodge maintenance manager for Sugar Loaf.
Mel is survived by five of his six children, Leonard (Lois) Schneider, Mary (Mike) Taylor, Sue Saiers (John Richardson), Judy (Marty) Schaub, and Frederick (Renee) Schneider; as well as a sister in law, Lena Schneider; 13 grandchildren, Jennifer, Jessica, Katherine, James, Cody, Naomi, Natasha, Tabetha, Hali, Marriah, Garrett, Kevin, and Sarah; 12 great grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Grace; two brothers, Willard and Michael; a son, Robert; and his grandchildren, Justin and Conrad.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 pm on Thu, Jan 30, with the rosary prayed at 7 pm, at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
The funeral service will be held at 11 am on Fri, Jan 31, with family greeting friends at 10 am, at St Mary's Church of Lake Leelanau. Burial in St Mary's Cemetery will be held in the spring. Fr Bryan Medlin will serve as celebrant.
