Hans Kurt Schnugg

Born in Bad Reichenhall, Germany in 1930, Hans had a childhood filled with love and laughter and an adolescence marked by the horrors of World War II. When the war ended and construction of the Berlin Wall began, Hans knew he had only a short time to escape a life of communist rule. In the cover of night, he waited in a ditch until he could squeeze under barbed wire without being caught by guards … and then ran to freedom in West Germany.

Hans always had a kind of wanderlust — moving throughout his life to Switzerland, Ohio, Northern Germany and finally back to Ohio.

But from the moment he arrived in Akron on the 4th of July in 1955, he knew he would make a life in America. Here, he met his wife Margaret (nee Till) at the German-American Club and they married in 1957. They adopted a son and were later blessed with two daughters. He became a tool and die maker, spending much of his career at Gauer Mold in Tallmadge.

Hans understood that when times are good, you must appreciate them because the future is never guaranteed. His beloved Margaret died in 1995 at the age of 55. Although he tried to fill the hole she left in his heart, he longed for his partner the rest of his life.

Hans had a deep love for family; friends; gardening; being goofy; jigsaw puzzles; good food —and even better beer. He looked forward to Wednesdays and Sundays when he called his older sister, Erna, in Germany to reminisce about their childhood. When they spoke, there was always a contentment in his voice that can only be heard when someone is truly happy.

He is preceded in death by his wife Margaret; son David; sister Johanna; brother Herschel; friend Ursula and many other friends and family. He is survived by daughters Susanne (Chris) Smith of Plain Township and Erika (Tyson) Wehn of Jackson Township; grandchildren Matthew (Maggy) Smith, Ian Smith, Jesse, Amanda and Brianna; loving great-grandchildren Naomi Cain and Silas Smith; several great-grandchildren in Mississippi; sister Erna Probst; and countless friends and family in Germany and America.

Hans had an innate yearning for freedom and peace, which he can now enjoy in eternity. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 11th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Karlo-Libby Funeral Home in Canton, OH. A service celebrating his life will follow at 12:00 pm. Donations can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in the name of Hans and Margaret Schnugg or to the German Family Society of Akron.