Sandra Sue Schneider

Sandra Sue Schneider was born on June 5, 1952, in Miles City, MT, to her parents, Ben and Carrie Sackman. She was an exceptionally beautiful and talented woman.

Sandy attended junior and senior high school in Billings, MT, graduating from Billings West in 1970. She went on to enroll at Eastern Montana College where she studied for two years before moving to Oregon where her husband attended graduate school.

Sandy held numerous jobs throughout her adult life including being a legal secretary in Oregon City, a sales representative for Mascotte Home Security in Portland and an office/ business manager for Portland radio stations KPDQ and KPAM. Her final job was as a staff member at Willamette Christian Church in West Linn. For the past 20 years, she traveled with and supported her husband in chaplaincy work with NHM, a ministry providing spiritual care to residents of adult care facilities.

Sandy's devotion to God and her faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation for who she was and all that she did. Every action and every relationship stemmed from her unshakeable reliance on her Savior. Next to her devotion to God was her devotion to her family. She had an amazing accepting and forgiving spirit that she demonstrated not only to her husband, children, and grandchildren, but to everyone she met. The many sacrifices she made on our behalf will never be fully known or appreciated.

Sandy was always a hard worker. From a young age she was taught the importance of work and doing a job to the best of her abilities. From working to put her husband through graduate school, to working full-time when the kids were in school, to planning all kinds of church and ministry events, Sandy gave herself wholeheartedly to the tasks before her. She not only did what was required but did more and did it well. Bosses loved her and commended her often. Her events were always unique and well received.

Sandy was dependable. If you needed a job done and done well, you wanted Sandy. The many school, work, church and ministry projects that she undertook were always completed with diligence. Sandy also had an eye for design and made every house she lived in a home, decorating with style (most often on a limited budget). Her ability to make a lot out of a little went beyond just home decorating. Living on a pastor's salary, Sandy was still able to keep her family well clothed and well fed. Her children never felt as if they missed out on something they really needed.

At the age of 13, Sandy met the love of her life. John, who was 15, attended the same church and for 5 ½ years these two were inseparable. They grew up together until on August 6, 1971 they were married on a plus 100 degree evening in a packed church with no air conditioning. It was the beginning of an adventure that lasted 55 years to the day.

Sandy was truly a woman who was beautiful inside and out. Her lasting beauty came from the light of God's love which shined through her bright blue eyes and engaging smile to uplift all who met her. Even while battling Alzheimer's, Sandy never lost her joy in the Lord. That joy was her strength. As she took her last breath, she was hearing her husband, daughter and granddaughter sing the words,

"'Twill be my endless theme in glory,

With the angels I will sing.

'Twill be a song with glorious harmony

When the courts of heaven ring."

A verse that was precious to Sandy and John during her last years was 2 Corinthians 4:16 . . . "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."

Sandy will be terribly missed but, because of what Jesus did for us by sacrificing His life on the cross and by conquering the grave, we know that we will see her again. "Even so, come Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

Sandy is survived by her husband, Dr. John Stephen Schneider; daughter, Kari Ann Koller-Oberg(Tim); sons, Benjamin Vincent Schneider (Misty) and Douglas Lee Schneider (Danielle); granddaughters, Kennedy Noelle Koller, Magdalena Marie Schneider. Delaney Grace Schneider, and Daphney Jane Schneider; grandsons, Jason Lee Koller, Jr. (Carson), Benjamin Vincent Schneider, Jr., and Danyon Douglas Schneider; sisters, Sherrie Lou Richert (Phil) and Susan Rae Balster (Ken); brother, Walter Martin Sackman (Doreen); and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A private family graveside service will be held in Oregon City with a celebration open house in a few weeks.