Ronald Lee Schnell

Ronald Lee Schnell was born September 21,1945 to Irving and Mattie Lee Schnell in Austin Texas. Ronnie was preceded in death by his grandparents Luis and Clara Schnell, and Charlie and Dela May Whorton; his parents, Irving and Mattie Lee Schnell; and his son, Clifford Schnell. He is survived by his wife, Kay Schnell; daughter Wendy Wagner, son-in-law Gary Wagner, and granddaughter Callie Ann Wagner.

To those that knew Ronnie, he was a man of few words, but he spoke volumes by the life he led. Ronnie had an unwavering love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His family was his whole world. Ronnie and Kay met and fell in love at Southwest State University. They were married September 24, 1966 in Alice, Texas. Ronnie and Kay ran Von Tire Company in east Austin for thirty years. Ronnie wasn’t afraid to teach his daughter about the hard work it took to run and operate a tire business and made sure she knew how to get her hands dirty. If there was work to be done, the whole family worked in tandem to complete it. He led his life by the following principles: give an honest day’s work for an honest pay; it’s better to give than to receive; have humility; love without holding anything back; when life kicks you down, get back up and ask “is that all you got”, be proud of who you are, and where you came from, and never give up no matter how much it hurts.

After health issues pushed Ronnie into retirement, he threw himself into his hobbies. However, Ronnie never forgot his promise to the Lord that if he survived his first heart attack, he would make sure he gave generously to those in need and be a door that God's love could flow through. Whether it be providing thousands of pounds of produce a year to the local foodbanks or working hand in hand with his wife making comfort blankets for the battered women’s shelters, he made sure that those in need were provided for. Ronnie personally only saw his work as a tool for those that were doing God's work. Ronnie loved woodworking, gardening, and tinkering with his wife’s sewing machines and he used these hobbies to better others.

When you look back on Ronnie’s life you see the spirit of a man who loved deeply, gave generously, and fought tirelessly for what he believed in. Ronald Lee Schnell, you will live forever in our hearts and we anxiously await that glorious day when we meet again.