Jerry Schneider, a long time Miami Lakes resident who served his country in the military and was a member of a town committee to honor veterans, died after a long illness. He was 82.
Schneider passed on August 11 at Veterans Affairs Hospital in Miami, according to his wife Jan Schneider.
Jerry Schneider was born in Brooklyn, New York and in 1951 joined the U.S. Army working as a demolition expert. In fact, while on duty in the Korean War, his unit dropped behind enemy lines and soldiers were hit. Schneider was the only solider who survived out of his entire unit, his wife said.
After he was honorably discharged from the Army, Schneider moved to Miami in 1955, where he met his first wife and they had several children.
He later met Jan Schneider in 1972 and they got married in 1992 after they moved to Miami Lakes.
After Miami Lakes incorporated in 2000, Schneider was appointed to serve on the Elderly Affairs Committee and Veteran Affairs Committee.
His wife said he loved to participate in the annual Miami Lakes Veteran’s Day Parade. ‘He really looked forward each year to being in the parade,” said Jan Schneider.
She said her husband was an affectionate person who people loved to call “daddy” and “grandpa.”
“He was very well loved in the town,” she said. “Everybody was sad after he passed away.”
Jerry Schneider is survived by his wife, one son, two daughters, several step children and a host of grandchildren.