Alfred Franz Schneider

Alfred Franz Schneider, born Oct. 20, 1952, in Haugslag, Austria, was called home Oct. 29, 2016. He was a quiet man, a fearless adventurer, unique in many ways and a seeker of the truth.

Born to Leopold and Matilde Schneider, brother of Emma and Leo, he grew up near the border of the Czech Republic where the fir trees are still and thick and the snow thicker still.

As a boy, Alf was the first on the ice in his hometown of Litschau, Austria, and an eager soccer player. He was always a diligent student and at fifteen left home to study building and engineer-ing in Krems for five years. He made the highest grades in his class and worked as a civil engi-neer in Vienna for four years. It was through a professor that he was introduced to yoga and meditation and he traveled overland to India to practice these disciplines. It was there that he met his wife-to-be, Eleanor, and they built a life together for 37 years.

Alfred had a particular love of mountains and would search the internet to find volcanoes to climb and mountains to trek. He taught himself Spanish to facilitate travel in Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador, but his greatest adventures occurred in the peaks of the Himalayas and he jour-neyed to India, Nepal and La Dak to gain access to the highest passes.

When Alf came to America he followed his love of learning to become a teacher and ob-tained a Doctorate in Mathematics Education from UGA in 1992. He poured himself into his stu-dents and determined to provide opportunities to challenge their minds. He began his teaching career at Screven County High School and continued at Jenkins County High for 25 years. He built tennis tables so the students would have something to do during their lunch breaks, started a chess club and performed magic tricks to engage his students. He taught a night calculus course at GSU for fourteen years to keep “his mind sharp” and once said if he were stuck on a island by himself, it would be a calculus book that he’d prefer above all others.

Spiritually, Alfred spent hours assembling the highest thoughts of men and communi-cating with God. He believed in mankind and respected their differences. He carefully guarded his heart to allow positive and uplifting impressions, ever a servant willing to help others where he could. He was neither showy nor public, but deep, wise, and kind. He would allow others to win a game to make them feel good about themselves and seldom passed a book he didn’t like.

Alfred was a man of principle and courage, having served in a hospital as a conscientious objector in the Austrian army. His family felt cheated that the majority of his adult life was spent out-of-country with only occasional visits. He leaves us bereft but grateful to have shared his life. His wife, Eleanor Amason Schneider, mother Matilde Schneider, sister and brother-in-law, Emmi and Franz Puhr, brother and sister-in-law, Leopold and Christine Schneider, nieces Susi & Sabine and nephew Christian, their spouses Reinhold, Fredi and Bettina, their children Max, Bernhard, Vivi & Kathi. In America, sister-in-law Alice Budack, her sons Kyle & Clark MacCullough, brother and sister-in-law, Warren and Krista Amason and their children Jennifer Smith, Jessica and Erik Amason, their spouses Gib and Emily. Adopted daughters Jill Ivie and Dinah Yarborough, their spouses Troy and Bryan, and children Tanner, Tyler, Cotton, Blaze & Jett. His four-legged children, Lucy and Teddy, the loves of his life, gave him endless hours of joy.

Memorial Service will be held Wednesday Nov. 2, 2016 at 11:00am from the Statesboro First United Methodist Church.

Visitation will begin Wednesday morning at 10:00am in the gathering area at the church.

Memorials may be made to Kiva Attn: Chief Development Officer 875 Howard Street, Suite 340 San Francisco, CA 94103.

Please visit our online memorial at www.hodgesmoore.com to sign the guestbook and share fond memories with the Schneider Family.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.