Walter ''Pikie'' Schneider

Walter "Pikie" Schneider, 74, 211 North First Avenue, Edgar, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Sunday, December 8, 2002 at Community Health Care Wausau Hospital. He was born on August 9, 1928 in Marshfield, son of the late Walter and Ann (Gleischner) Schneider. On June 9, 1951, he married Roberta Brehm. He worked as a lineman for Wisconsin Public Service for 42 years, retiring in 1990. He was a member of the WPS Men's Club, the US Navy Cruiser Sailor's Association, the Last Man's Club and the Operating Engineers Union. His favorite activities were traveling, bowling, fishing, hunting, gardening, bird watching (especially purple martins), coin collecting, playing cards and watching the Green Bay Packers. He loved "watching" the weather, and was Channel 7's Edgar area "weather watcher" for several years after retiring. Walter was a veteran of the US Navy, a life member of the Edgar VFW and a member of the American Legion Sawyer Drumm Post #393 in Edgar. Walter is survived by his wife, Roberta, two daughters: Gail Schneider, Glen Ellyn, Illinois and Kathryn (Kevin) Gerstenberger, Onalaska, three sons: Michael (Cindy) Schneider, Ellison Bay, Philip (Polly) Schneider, Glen Ellyn, Illinois and Mark (Catherine) Schneider, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, 11 grandchildren: Erik and Gabriel Schneider, Andy, Amy, Aaron and Avery Gerstenberger, Katherine and Jeffrey Schneider, and Matthew, Anna and Emilia Schneider; and four sisters: Virginia (Homer) Garcia, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Arla Mae Bogner, Cloverdale, California, Marguerite "Dolly" Boettcher, Prospect Heights, Illinois and Sally Miller, Wisconsin Rapids. Walter was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 12, 2002 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edgar. The Reverend Bernard Raschke will preside. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home in Edgar, and again from 10:00 a.m. to the time of the service at the church. There will be a parish vigil at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home, followed by a military memorial service conducted by the VFW and the American Legion Sawyer Drumm Post #393. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the American Legion or the VFW in Edgar.