Edgar George “Ed” Schnier

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Edgar George “Ed” Schnier

Birth
Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, USA
Death
19 Jan 2000 (aged 81)
Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, USA
Burial
Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, USA GPS-Latitude: 39.9528, Longitude: -91.3868
Plot
Front row by fence on 18th Street.
Memorial ID
View Source
Obituary printed in the Quincy Herald-Whig.
Edgar G. Schnier, 81, of 1213 N. 14th, died at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 19, 2000) in Blessing Hospital, Quincy, Illinois.

Born Dec. 4, 1918, in Quincy, Mr. Schnier was the oldest child of Carl and Caroline (Doellman) Schnier. He married Virginia Bufford on June 28, 1947, in Quincy's St. Francis Catholic Church. She survives.

Mr. Schnier was a 1936 graduate of Quincy High School. He served in the Army Signal Corps during World War II and received technical training in radar. After the war, he was an engineer for KHQA-WTAD working as a studio technical supervisor from 1947 until his retirement in 1990.

Mr. Schnier was a member of St. John Catholic Church of All Saints Parish where he served as Eucharistic minister. He was also active in Cursillo, TEC, and the Prairieland SHARE and was a member of the Sierra Club.

Services were conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday (Jan 22, 2000) in the Duker and Haugh Funeral Home and at 11 a.m. in St. John Catholic Church of All Saints Parish. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Quincy.

The following Eulogy was delivered by one of Edgar's nephews during the funeral Mass:

"First, I want to beg your forgiveness in advance because there are many others who are much more qualified to eulogize Edgar Schnier than I and would probably do a more eloquent job of honoring him. However, I asked for this privilege because there is no other man on Earth for whom I have greater respect and admiration. Though I’m sure I’ve failed him in many ways over the years, he has always been a model for my life. So I want to thank my Aunt Gini for granting me this honor and I hope my few pitiful words come close to paying him the last respects he deserves.

What to say about Edgar G. Schnier? There was so much to the man. He wore many, many hats throughout his 81 years: Christian, son, brother, student, soldier, member of Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation”, husband, father, grandfather, radio repairman, engineer, radio and TV broadcast pioneer, neighbor, mentor, faithful parishioner, auto mechanic, home builder, handyman, storyteller, and finally a man who loved to hear a good joke. Unfortunately, because my Uncle Edgar never “told” a “good” joke, he’s going to be most remembered for his “groaners”! A fact that he may very well be most proud of.

I can only eulogize Edgar Schnier in the few areas of which I have intimate knowledge relating to myself and my family. As I speak, I’m sure that you can recall ten times as many relating to you and your families. First and foremost, to myself, my brother, and my sisters who grew up next door to Uncle Edgar, he was a father to two families. Not only was he a father to his own family, but he was always there for advice, guidance, car repairs, home repairs, and so on when our father wasn’t. I also know he was a constant source of strength and encouragement to my mother while she raised a family of five on her own. For that I want to belatedly thank both him and Aunt Gini.

As for his own family, Edgar Schnier was the most respected husband, dad, and all around great family man that I’ve ever known. God gave him a wonderful wife–Virginia for 52 years, and three children that anyone would treasure–Jeannie, Danny, and Terri. The Lord especially knew what he was doing when he presented Danny to Edgar and Gini back in June of ’53. Some special children aren’t as lucky as Danny who had understanding, loving parents to nurture him.

I’ve learned many things from Uncle Edgar besides electronics, how to drive, and how to fix cars. I remember once being admonished by him for fighting. I was standing there with knuckles bleeding after my cousin Jerry and I whupped a couple of neighborhood bullies who’d been giving Danny some trouble. Families gotta stick together you know. I no longer remember what verbal lesson Uncle Edgar tried to teach me that day. But, what I do remember is him trying to suppress a smile while wagging his finger at me and scolding me for fighting. I think he was secretly proud of us.

I learned restraint from him the day I ran into his back with a child’s peddle car. Though he was in obvious pain, he didn’t take my head off like many would have.

From him I quietly learned to respect the titles of your elders. Something that’s slipping today. Once I grew up, or actually once I outgrew my britches so-to-speak, I decided that he was no longer going to be “Uncle” Edgar, but just plain Edgar. That once I crossed the bridge to being a man, I somehow thought we were now equals. It was uncomfortable for some reason, but I tried it a few times anyway until one day he talked to me about respect for your elders. After that, he’s been “Uncle” Edgar ever since and I feel better about it. I’ve tried to pass that lesson on to others.

From him I learned resourcefulness. If Edgar Schnier wasn’t a genius, he was darned close to it. He was German stubborn to. Combined with his resourceful genius, this made him a wonder to behold. Someone once told him that it would be impossible to reuse the old outside wall as the new outside wall of his kitchen addition. Well, all he needed was a length of rope and a tree to anchor it to, to prove that it was possible. As a kid, I stood there dumbfounded watching him tighten the rope and slide an entire upright wall through the addition until he could nail it in place as the new outside wall. He said he did it to save money, but I think he did it to prove that it could be done.

I could go on and on as I’m sure you could also. But, these few and many others are some of the small lessons on life that I learned from him and remember to this day.

Uncle Edgar touched the lives of all those around him in small ways that he probably never knew. Last night at the visitation, parking was impossible and the line seemed to never end. That’s a tribute in itself. For me personally, his example of military service and his mentoring my interest in electronics, lead me into a 20 year career in the U.S. Air Force. My sister told me on the phone the other night that the only vacation she had been able to go on as a child was to Hannibal, Missouri with Uncle Edgar. She was so thrilled that she can still remember the smells of that day.

His country, community, and parish owe him an immense debt of gratitude. His country for the sacrifices and private hell that only a soldier of World War II would know. The community of Quincy for his 50 year legacy as a radio/TV broadcast pioneer. Though I’ve not seen it, I understand that KHQA TV has been running a wonderful televised memorial to his legacy. And finally, St John’s Parish and School owe him unending appreciation for a lifetime of service. Especially, for keeping the pipe organ and PA system working and the school supplied with writing and drawing paper from old WTAD programming logs. Uncle Edgar was into recycling long before it was the politically correct thing to do.

Finally, what I’m going to miss most about my Uncle Edgar is his storytelling. My wife and I enjoyed his stories so much that on many occasions we would “prime the pump” with questions to get him going and keep him going.

Aunt Gini, Jeannie, Danny, and Terri our heart grieves with you at our loss of this wonderful man. The heart and soul of Edgar George Schnier walked this Earth from December 4, 1918 to January 19, 2000. We all are better for it."
Obituary printed in the Quincy Herald-Whig.
Edgar G. Schnier, 81, of 1213 N. 14th, died at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 19, 2000) in Blessing Hospital, Quincy, Illinois.

Born Dec. 4, 1918, in Quincy, Mr. Schnier was the oldest child of Carl and Caroline (Doellman) Schnier. He married Virginia Bufford on June 28, 1947, in Quincy's St. Francis Catholic Church. She survives.

Mr. Schnier was a 1936 graduate of Quincy High School. He served in the Army Signal Corps during World War II and received technical training in radar. After the war, he was an engineer for KHQA-WTAD working as a studio technical supervisor from 1947 until his retirement in 1990.

Mr. Schnier was a member of St. John Catholic Church of All Saints Parish where he served as Eucharistic minister. He was also active in Cursillo, TEC, and the Prairieland SHARE and was a member of the Sierra Club.

Services were conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday (Jan 22, 2000) in the Duker and Haugh Funeral Home and at 11 a.m. in St. John Catholic Church of All Saints Parish. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Quincy.

The following Eulogy was delivered by one of Edgar's nephews during the funeral Mass:

"First, I want to beg your forgiveness in advance because there are many others who are much more qualified to eulogize Edgar Schnier than I and would probably do a more eloquent job of honoring him. However, I asked for this privilege because there is no other man on Earth for whom I have greater respect and admiration. Though I’m sure I’ve failed him in many ways over the years, he has always been a model for my life. So I want to thank my Aunt Gini for granting me this honor and I hope my few pitiful words come close to paying him the last respects he deserves.

What to say about Edgar G. Schnier? There was so much to the man. He wore many, many hats throughout his 81 years: Christian, son, brother, student, soldier, member of Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation”, husband, father, grandfather, radio repairman, engineer, radio and TV broadcast pioneer, neighbor, mentor, faithful parishioner, auto mechanic, home builder, handyman, storyteller, and finally a man who loved to hear a good joke. Unfortunately, because my Uncle Edgar never “told” a “good” joke, he’s going to be most remembered for his “groaners”! A fact that he may very well be most proud of.

I can only eulogize Edgar Schnier in the few areas of which I have intimate knowledge relating to myself and my family. As I speak, I’m sure that you can recall ten times as many relating to you and your families. First and foremost, to myself, my brother, and my sisters who grew up next door to Uncle Edgar, he was a father to two families. Not only was he a father to his own family, but he was always there for advice, guidance, car repairs, home repairs, and so on when our father wasn’t. I also know he was a constant source of strength and encouragement to my mother while she raised a family of five on her own. For that I want to belatedly thank both him and Aunt Gini.

As for his own family, Edgar Schnier was the most respected husband, dad, and all around great family man that I’ve ever known. God gave him a wonderful wife–Virginia for 52 years, and three children that anyone would treasure–Jeannie, Danny, and Terri. The Lord especially knew what he was doing when he presented Danny to Edgar and Gini back in June of ’53. Some special children aren’t as lucky as Danny who had understanding, loving parents to nurture him.

I’ve learned many things from Uncle Edgar besides electronics, how to drive, and how to fix cars. I remember once being admonished by him for fighting. I was standing there with knuckles bleeding after my cousin Jerry and I whupped a couple of neighborhood bullies who’d been giving Danny some trouble. Families gotta stick together you know. I no longer remember what verbal lesson Uncle Edgar tried to teach me that day. But, what I do remember is him trying to suppress a smile while wagging his finger at me and scolding me for fighting. I think he was secretly proud of us.

I learned restraint from him the day I ran into his back with a child’s peddle car. Though he was in obvious pain, he didn’t take my head off like many would have.

From him I quietly learned to respect the titles of your elders. Something that’s slipping today. Once I grew up, or actually once I outgrew my britches so-to-speak, I decided that he was no longer going to be “Uncle” Edgar, but just plain Edgar. That once I crossed the bridge to being a man, I somehow thought we were now equals. It was uncomfortable for some reason, but I tried it a few times anyway until one day he talked to me about respect for your elders. After that, he’s been “Uncle” Edgar ever since and I feel better about it. I’ve tried to pass that lesson on to others.

From him I learned resourcefulness. If Edgar Schnier wasn’t a genius, he was darned close to it. He was German stubborn to. Combined with his resourceful genius, this made him a wonder to behold. Someone once told him that it would be impossible to reuse the old outside wall as the new outside wall of his kitchen addition. Well, all he needed was a length of rope and a tree to anchor it to, to prove that it was possible. As a kid, I stood there dumbfounded watching him tighten the rope and slide an entire upright wall through the addition until he could nail it in place as the new outside wall. He said he did it to save money, but I think he did it to prove that it could be done.

I could go on and on as I’m sure you could also. But, these few and many others are some of the small lessons on life that I learned from him and remember to this day.

Uncle Edgar touched the lives of all those around him in small ways that he probably never knew. Last night at the visitation, parking was impossible and the line seemed to never end. That’s a tribute in itself. For me personally, his example of military service and his mentoring my interest in electronics, lead me into a 20 year career in the U.S. Air Force. My sister told me on the phone the other night that the only vacation she had been able to go on as a child was to Hannibal, Missouri with Uncle Edgar. She was so thrilled that she can still remember the smells of that day.

His country, community, and parish owe him an immense debt of gratitude. His country for the sacrifices and private hell that only a soldier of World War II would know. The community of Quincy for his 50 year legacy as a radio/TV broadcast pioneer. Though I’ve not seen it, I understand that KHQA TV has been running a wonderful televised memorial to his legacy. And finally, St John’s Parish and School owe him unending appreciation for a lifetime of service. Especially, for keeping the pipe organ and PA system working and the school supplied with writing and drawing paper from old WTAD programming logs. Uncle Edgar was into recycling long before it was the politically correct thing to do.

Finally, what I’m going to miss most about my Uncle Edgar is his storytelling. My wife and I enjoyed his stories so much that on many occasions we would “prime the pump” with questions to get him going and keep him going.

Aunt Gini, Jeannie, Danny, and Terri our heart grieves with you at our loss of this wonderful man. The heart and soul of Edgar George Schnier walked this Earth from December 4, 1918 to January 19, 2000. We all are better for it."

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WHEN I LOOK DOWN
FROM LOFTY MOUNTAIN GRANDEUR
THEN SINGS MY SOUL
MY SAVIOR GOD TO THEE
HOW GREAT THOU ART
HOW GREAT THOU ART