Ida M. Schneck

Our beloved Mother and Grandmother, Ida M. Schneck, 100, was called to her heavenly home on Friday, January 29, 2010, at Caretel Inns of Lakeland, St. Joseph, Michigan. A Visitation will be held at Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, on Thursday, February 4, 2010, from 3:00pm to 7:00 pm. Her Celebration of Life Service will be on Friday, February 5, 2010. at 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, corner of Court and Market Streets, in St. Joseph. There will also be visitation at the church at 10:00 am, one hour prior to the service. A luncheon will be served in the Church Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. Ida was born March 16, 1909 in Baroda, Michigan to Adeline (Maier) and Martin Marske. Her parents and older brothers and sisters had emigrated to America in the early 1900s from Rosyszcze, Volinia, Prussia—now the Ukraine. Ida Marske became a child of God by the washing of Holy Baptism on April 16, 1909. She professed her faith through the Rite of Confirmation in March of 1925 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Stevensville, Michigan After attending Ruggles School in Baroda and St. Paul's Lutheran in Stevensville, Ida left the farm to follow several of her sisters to study at South Bend Business College in Indiana. While she was working as a dental assistant for Dr. Keyes in St. Joseph, she met her future husband, Fred G. Schneck. They were united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Joseph, on June 4, 1932, by Pastor Louis Nuechterlein. Ida and Fred settled in Stevensville, and together they operated the family business, Schneck's Red & White Grocery store. God blessed their marriage with five children, two sons and three daughters: Allen, Arvin, Lorraine, Margot, and Karen. Ida enjoyed working side by side with her husband at the store. She loved the people and all aspects of running the supermarket. Her gift of hospitality was shared with each of their employees and their families as well. In 1945, Fred and Ida sold their store to Otto Grau, and in 1950 purchased a larger store from Herb Vogler, near the corner of Niles and Napier in St. Joseph. The family moved from Stevensville to Comings Avenue in St. Joseph. Even while managing the the business and their home and family, Ida also was active in the community. She was a member of the Berrien County Home Extension Group, The Twin Cities Area Safety Council, and a Memorial Hospital Auxiliary volunteer. Ida continued to work in the business until Fred's sudden death in July of 1972. Retiring in 1973, and turning the management of the store over to her sons, Ida moved to Hawthorne Park in Leesburg, Florida. Living alone for the first time in her life, she made a host of new friends, and remained there for more than twenty years. She gladly entertained relatives, friends, children and grandchildren, when they eagerly came to visit, since she lived so near to Disneyworld. In 1995, she returned to Michigan to be nearer to her family and friends. She was delighted to move into the Whitcomb Towers Retirement Home, where her windows overlooked beautiful Lake Michigan and the St. Joseph Lighthouse and piers. It was a thrill to become re-acquainted with both church friends and “Schneck's Supermarket” customers from her many years in business, both in Stevensville and St. Joseph. Ida lived at the Whitcomb for 14 years, and was one of their longest continuous residents. She always had a smile for everyone she met, and a marvelous gift to make others happy with her great sense of humor. Even when macular degeneration took her sight, and made simple day-to-day activities even more challenging, she remained positive and cheerful. In September 2009, she moved to Caretel Inns of Lakeland in St. Joseph. She always continued to thank God for His wondrous gifts of life and health, and stated many times how grateful she was for all of the countless blessings received over the span of her lifetime. Ida's greatest joy and priority throughout her life was being active in service to her Lord through the three churches where she worshipped: St. Paul, Stevensville; Trinity, St. Joseph; and Bethany Lutheran, in Leesburg Florida. She was a member of the Ladies Aid, Lutheran Women's Missionary League, Altar Guild, Parent-Teacher League, Choirs, and Bell-Ringers, she also helped to organize Small group In-Home Bible Studies. She and Fred provided for Christian education both at home and at Lutheran Schools for all five of their children. She will always be remembered for her inspiring faith, her friendly, outgoing personality, and great love for all those she knew. Ida is survived by her two sons: Allen Schneck and Arvin (Shirley) Schneck of Benton Harbor; three daughters: Lorraine (Karl) Neuman of Ft. Wayne, IN; Margot (Bill) Pyatt of Dowagiac, MI; and Karen Stearns of Sun City, AZ. She is survived by ten Grandchildren: James (Ruth) Schneck , East Troy, WI; David (Kim) Schneck , Westland, MI; Bryan (Deanna) Schneck , Anchorage, AK; Kevin (Angela) Neuman, New Ulm, MN; Kirstin Neuman Cook, Ft. Wayne, IN; Keith (Treanna) Neuman, Greenwood, IN; Erik (Robin) Pyatt, Newman Lake, WA; Lisa (Todd) Hoffe, Dakota, MN; John (Sandra) Pyatt; Newman Lake, WA; and Bill Stearns, Los Angeles, CA. In addition, thirty-eight Great-Grandchildren: Amanda Schneck; Bethany (Luther) Anderson; Brandon (Viola) Schneck; Andrew, Aaron, Meghan, Katherine Huff; Jackie, Jenny, Joseph, Justin Schneck; Caleb, Abigail, Emma, Gideon Schneck; Jessica, Aaron, Abigail, Mason Neuman; Ashley Neuman; Dakota Gillenwater; Dajn, Lany, Cook; James Smith, Jacob, Jenna Neuman; Whitney, Zachary, Courtney Pyatt; Julia, Elizabeth, Sarah, William Hoffe; Evan, Erik, Emily, Edward Pyatt; Gaetano Stearns. Ida is also survived by seven Great-Great Grandchildren, as well as many, dear cousins, nieces and nephews. Ida was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Adeline Marske; her husband of 40 years, Fred G. Schneck, on July 15, 1972; a Great Granddaughter, Melinda Schneck; Son-in-law, Robert Stearns; a Granddaughter, Suzanne Huff; four dear brothers: Adolph, Andrew, Edward and Henry Marske; seven beloved sisters: Anna Wetherill; Olga Schigoda; Pauline Wiese; Tillie Ohst; Elsie Spitzer; Edna Ohst; and Emily Roeder. Her body will await the glorious day of resurrection near the carillon at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph, MI. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made in Ida's name to Trinity Lutheran School, or to the Church Music Fund at Trinity Lutheran Church, 619 Main St., St. Joseph MI 49085 or to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Ln., St. Joseph. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the Guest Book online, please do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.