John Schneider Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

OLD MISSION — John Martin Schneider, 72, of Old Mission, died Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at his home.John was born Monday, March 20, 1939, to the late Ernest and Mary (Keavney) Schneider in Battle Creek.John received a Distinguished Professor Emeritus from Michigan State University's Colleges of Medicine for service from 1970-1995. During that time he also received a Distinguished Faculty Award.In 1995, John and his wife, Sharon Olson, moved to Old Mission Peninsula. John's clinical focus became one of developing holistic healing programs for people with chronic or life-threatening illness while also addressing grief and loss issues. He also saw a need to develop healing communities as a part of individual and collective ways to live fully. To that extent he worked with the Chamber of Commerce and local fire departments to bring New York City firefighters from 9/11 to Traverse City for a program of renewal and healing while also participating in local programs of renewal and healing for returning Iraq veterans.John also collaborated for many years with Dr. Marilyn Schneider and Dr. Sam Copeland to assist with patient psychological support at the Center for Health in Traverse City. In 2008 he joined Sharon in her Partners in Prevention practice to comprehensively focus on wellness/prevention programs from a clinical coaching perspective.Before his untimely death due to complications from a fall, John had just completed the third edition of "Finding My Way — From Trauma to Transformation: The Journey through Loss and Grief" (Seasons Press, 2011), representing a culmination of his lifelong commitment to address grief holistically and validate each unique grief journey including his own.He will be greatly missed by his wife and soulmate of 24 years; his sister Elizabeth Kreider (Kent); his daughters, Betsy Schneider (Frank Ekeberg), Anne Schneider (Shawn Mann Roland) and Rachel; and his grandchildren Madeleine, Viktor, Kasper and Ozzie; Sharon's children, John Olson (Tovah) and Clarissa Kewin; and grandchildren, Taylor and Casey Wilamowski and Mckenna, Bronwyn, Rhiannan and Finnegan Kewin.John also was grateful for many loving friends and colleagues who shared and supported his life journey.It is said that people remember not what we do but what we are about. John was about continuing to learn new perspectives, being a caring friend, a kind and gentle man who journeyed with people through very difficult times while never giving up on them. He believed in growing friendships and communities of all shapes and sizes. He was adamant about giving blood regularly. Most profoundly he brought forth our best self when we could not see it in ourselves. He deeply loved his family knowing intimately that grief's journey is a powerful teacher of what is truly to be cherished in our lifetime. A celebration of John's life will take place Tuesday, April 19, at Central United Methodist Church in Traverse City with participation from the Unitarian ministry. A social gathering will be from noon to 1 p.m. with the service of celebration from 1 to 2 p.m.Donations may be made to the Traverse Health Clinic (www.traversehealthclinic.org) in support of psychological support services and the Munson Hospice and Palliative Care Program (www.munsonhealthcare.org).You may share your memories of John, as well as condolences to the family, by way of John's online guest book at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Traverse City.