Erika Anna Schneider

Erika Schneider, age 90, of Portland, Oregon, passed away August 22, 2017. She was born in Bolcie, Germany (now Poland) on August 31, 1926 and has a twin brother Waldemar. She was married to Erich Schneider on July 25, 1953, who preceded her in death. Erika worked as an assistant supervisor in Pressing at Jantzen in Portland. She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Washington. She also belonged to the card-playing group known as the D.U.V. Her passions were her vegetable garden, rose garden, and mushroom hunting . She is survived by her son Deran Schneider, granddaughter Kaylee Gabriel and husband Jeff, twin brother Waldemar Schmidt and wife Gerda, sister Ruth Werner and husband Karl, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements will be held beginning with the viewing at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29, at Lincoln Memorial with the service beginning at 1:30 p.m. Following the graveside service, a reception will be held at Kelly Creek Sports Bar and Grill in Gresham.

Arrangements under the direction of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Portland, OR.

Eulogy for Erika Anna Schneider, August 31, 1926-August 22, 2017.

Erika was born Erika Schmidt in Bolcie, Germany (now Poland) along with her twin brother Waldemar. She has three sisters, Meta and Hildegard who both preceded her in death, and her younger sister Ruth. She grew up with her family on the farm with many happy times until WWII started. She and her sisters had to flee to safety and were separated for over a year. The Red Cross united them in Western Germany.

Erika did farm work in Western Germany until establishing contact with relatives in the U.S. She was able to come to America. She had already met her future husband Erich who then followed her to New York where they married in 1953. Erich passed away in 2010.

The newlyweds then moved to Portland where sister Hildegard was already living. She worked for Jantzen Inc. for many years in the pressing department. In 1954 Erika and Erich bought a small home on a large property that she lived in until her life ended. The two of them remodeled their home several times over the years and truly enjoyed the home and the large yard. Easter egg hunts were a family tradition at their home.

Erika had many hobbies and interests. While Erich was alive they enjoyed mushroom hunting and shrimping on their boat at their property in Long Beach, Washington. In the house, Erika enjoyed her music, her organ playing, beading Christmas ornaments and knitting. Every Sunday the family got together for a meal and Pinochle playing. It was on her way home from a Pinochle Sunday that she took her unfortunate fall.

Outdoors was Erika’s passion. Even using her cane, until the day before her fall, she was outside taking care of her beloved vegetable garden and flowers.

She was a devoted mother and grandmother to her son Deran and granddaughter Kaylee.

Erika died peacefully and is now with her Lord in heaven.