WILLIAM JAMES SCHNEIDER

Sep 5, 1930 - Apr 17, 2014

Bill was born in Berkeley, California to William and Genevieve Schneider. He had two older sisters, Marjorie and Elizabeth. After graduating from Berkeley High School, he entered the army and served in the Korean War where he received 2 bronze medals as a soldier and a medic. Upon returning to the states, he started a family and his wife Carole gave birth to three sons and three daughters, Ridgeley, Kimberley, Bradley, Shelby, Sheila, and Stephanie. Today dad also had 17 grandchildren and 2 great grand-children. Bill started work at Bank of America where he was employed for 17 years until he was offered the opportunity to begin a new career in the automotive industry at Fairway Chevrolet in San Bruno, CA. From there he began his own company called Leasemobile which endures to the present day. After being a founding member of the Peninsula Bank of Commerce in Millbrae, CA, Bill fulfilled a lifelong dream of living in the old west by buying a ranch in Nevada. Not being the retiring type, he purchased Cactus Jacks Casino with his sister Liz in Carson City. They had over a hundred employees that testified to the excellent manner in which they were treated. He was also a pilot of his Cessna 210 Turbo Centurion and he happily flew the skies between Minden, Nevada and San Carlos, California on regular commutes. In business dad was a leader. He was one of the founders of the National Vehicle Leasing Association, the NVLA which is nationwide. He was their first president. Many people today have successful businesses that were inspired or started and coached by Bill Schneider. He was active in the Rotary club and the Chamber of Commerce as well as supporting his local church. He was a constant promoter of their people’s abilities. From dad we learned camping, skiing, kite-flying, house boating, baseball, basketball, football, ping pong, pinochle, chess, checkers, capture the flag, horseback riding, and snipe hunting. We also learned what happens when you talk back to your mother. There is no documented evidence that he ever lost a game of monopoly and winning a pinochle game against him was a rarity. Probably the most valuable lesson dad continually taught was that we should treat each other how we would like to be treated. This idea has a familiar ring to it... Dad, you always stood tall. In fact, we never got as tall as you. However, you did teach us to stand tall, look people in the eye, and shake their hand firmly. This we will continue to do in your honor. Also, I remember the picture you cut, walking down Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley circa 1959 wearing your cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and carrying a guitar. Perhaps it was there in those sessions at Live Oak Park where you first sang the refrain: “Oh bury me not on the lone prairie where the coyotes howl and the wind blows free, in a narrow grave just six by three oh bury me not on the lone prairie.” In accordance with those wishes, we shall lay you to the rest in the mountains, next to your beloved son Brad, in the old gold mining town of Sonora California where there’s still a cowboy or two and the skies are not cloudy all day... May the Almighty God take you in his glory until we meet again. All our love now and always. - Your Children and Grand-Children. A celebration of Bill’s life will be held Friday, June 6 at Terzich and Wilson in Sonora, Calif.