William Vincent Schnorr

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of William, known to many as Bill or Willy. Dad passed away on Saturday, September 20th, at the age of 84. Bill was a beloved [Husband/Poppa/Grandfather/Papaw/Great-Grandfather/Brother/Friend], whose kindness, wisdom, and love touched the lives of many.

Born on March 24th, 1941, in Chicago Heights, Illinois, to Raymond and Eloise Schnorr, Bill was the oldest of five children: Janet, Mary Ann, Ray, and Matt. He was the big brother who built race cars for his youngest brothers and spent time with family at his grandparents' farms. His Grandpa Hamant taught him to fish and hunt at a young age, instilling in him a deep appreciation for nature and animals. He enjoyed running through the woods and streams with his cousin Mike Schnorr and siblings.

Bill's love for nature led him to become an Eagle Scout. In 1954, he became the youngest Eagle Scout in Indiana, earning 21 merit badges and completing his Eagle Scout Project. Early on, he taught himself taxidermy and was always working on something from his numerous hunting and fishing trips.

Dad attended St. Joan of Arc for first grade (fun fact: Mom and Dad were in the same first-grade class), then continued his grade school years at St. Andrews. He graduated from Scecina Memorial High School in 1959 and went on to Purdue to study Forestry. While at Purdue, he was the chosen driver for the 3rd Annual Purdue Grand Prix, finishing in the top 5. He was quite proud of this accomplishment and would tell the story to anyone who would listen. He was a true Boilermaker and always said he bled black and gold.

Bill left college to serve in the Air Force in 1960 and was honorably discharged in 1964. During his time in the service, he was stationed at Heyford, England. While there, he attended the Jim Russell driving school, where he learned to race Formula 3. While in the service, he started writing to Barbara, and they became pen pals. Once he left the service, they began dating and were married on November 28, 1964, at Christ the King Church.

Daughters Debbie and Kathie followed, and the family of four settled in Indianapolis. Bill coached Christ the King 5th and 6th grade football for many years and served as the CKS Athletic Director. He also coached his daughters' softball and kickball teams through the years and was their biggest cheerleader next to Barbara.

Many family vacations were spent camping and fishing at Lake Monroe or Tippecanoe. Bill taught his daughters how to fish, explained forestry, and shared his knowledge of nature. He was a teacher of many things.

Bill was also a storyteller and historian, sharing his knowledge of American history far beyond what could be learned from a schoolbook. He taught us to never take things for granted and to appreciate those who went before us and gave their lives for our freedom. He was a proud Veteran and cried each time he heard the National Anthem.

An avid race fan, Bill worked at the Indy 500 for years (to get a free ticket) by running press updates to the Press at the Pagoda throughout the race. He attended many races for the Indy 500, the Brickyard, and the Grand Prix.

Bill worked at Stewart-Warner, Bryant/Carrier, sold insurance for Knights of Columbus, worked and sales for HP Products. He finished his working career at Firestone Building Products where he worked over 21 years, traveling the world to inspect roofs before retiring in 2005. While at Firestone, he earned the prestigious President’s Award twice.

In 1993, Bill joined the UMRA, racing ¾ Midgets and creating his own Black Cat Racing team, traveling all over Indiana to race on as many dirt tracks as he could. He ran over 50 races during his time in the driver's seat and in 1997 was named the UMRA Semi Feature Champion.

In 2008, Bill joined the 44th Tennessee as a reenactor of the Civil War, attending many local and national events throughout the country. It was a living, teaching history lesson where he shared his love and knowledge of the Civil War to educate others. He became close friends with his “Pards” and loved his reenactment weekends.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Barbara Weaver Schnorr. His two daughters, Deborah Anez (Angel) and Kathryn Rickard (Joel). His beautiful granddaughters, Elizabeth Leisure (Jeffrey) and Alyssa Rickard King (Brent). He adored his great-grandchildren, Clark Thomas, Isabella June, Brantley Daniel, and Remington Ray.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, Raymond John Schnorr, his mother Eloise Kathryn Hamant Schnorr.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, East 191st St, Noblesville, on Monday, September 29th, at 11:00 am. Friends may call prior to the funeral from 10:00 am - 11:00 am at the church. A meal will be served at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, and because Bill was such an animal lover, contributions can be made in his memory to the Hamilton County Humane Society (http://www.hamiltonhumane.com/memorial) in Noblesville.

If we can leave you with one thought, our hope is that you take a moment to hug your child, sibling(s), friend(s), or take a walk in the woods in memory of Bill. Time waits for no one.