Rodney C. Schneider, Jr.

Rodney Carl Schneider Jr was called home on December 24, 2015. He is survived by his wife Gail Ann Schneider, his Parents Rodney Carl and Betty Lou Schneider Sr, his 4 children and their significant others- Barbara (Jason), Jillian (Mark), Martin (Megan) and Todd (Janel), 5 siblings- Marta (Danny), Rhys (Mary), Brian (Chrissy), Joseph (Monica), and Stephen (Laura), and his 6 grandchildren- Alyssa, Alexander ""A.J."", Preston, Jonathon ""J.P."", Asher and Ella. He accepted his role as the eldest brother of six children as being vitally important. He is remembered as always being a role model, a teacher, a mentor, and a protector. As a youth he and his siblings would visit their Uncle Matt's farm, where they enjoyed the freedom of the outdoors- building forts and roaming the fields. While closer to home, time was spent in the pool playing Marco Polo and making cannon balls. Rod imparted many lessons to his siblings in their youth including how to skip rocks, jump on a rope swing, and shoot BB guns. He was a protective presence in the lives of his siblings- imparting the lessons that he had already learned through trial and error as he paved the way for his younger brothers and sister. He was there to help pick up the pieces if need be, and to make sure that his siblings were safe and secure. His yellow 1968 Camaro was a source of great pride, and on very rare occasion he allowed some of them to drive it. The Camaro was also used for sibling trips to the drive in movies. During their early adult years they bonded over times spent at My Sweet Lass and Sam's, and at concerts at Red Rocks. There were late night meals at Denny's and Jack-In-The-Box. Rodney believed that there was nothing that a JITB taco couldn't fix. He could be counted on to always be there for his siblings- whether it was to lend an ear, give a piece of advice, or to help fix any situation. Rodney was devoted to his family. He would always look forward to family events such as birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries. He relished these events because they brought the family together to share and reminisce. He enjoyed playing board games, especially Risk, Chess, and Dominoes, both as a challenge and as a chance to bond. Due to a family sense of competition, these games could span hours. Even when separated by time or distance, Rod would reach out to reconnect with his family. He would frequently send flowers to his mother, make phone calls to his father and even learned text messaging to maintain contact with his brothers and children. When he met Gail, their romance progressed rapidly. They quickly bonded over lunch dates and coffee. A large part of her attraction to Rod was his love for all things faith and family. They soon married and remained so for the next 37 years. Rod accepted her son, Todd, without question as his own. Their family grew with the birth of Barbara, followed by the twins Martin and Jill. Together they raised their family, often sacrificing themselves for their benefit. He was cherished by his 4 children. Together he taught them the proper way to live, how to take responsibility and ownership, how to be humble and respectful, how to love, how to give, and the power of hard work. He also taught them the power of laughter, quick wit and imagination; introducing them to Star Trek, Mel Brooks, The Twilight Zone, Seinfeld, and Mystery Science Theatre 3000. He shared his love of nature with his family. Vacations revolved around his parents' cabin outside of Grand Lake and the National Park system- especially Yellowstone National Park. Rod would drive miles out of the way to spend time inside of Yellowstone. It was a place that captivated him. He encouraged his son's to join the scouts and took them both to Camp Chris Dobbins during the summers. He made sure that his family was ""a national park family and not an amusement park family."" He enjoyed the sport of fishing, although catching a fish was seen as a bonus. The real objective was the time spent outdoors and the company that was present. Before any vacation, he would gather the family, open up the atlas, and map out the intended route. In this way he shared his love of geography, passed on his wisdom, and created a bond with his children. He was found quite often reading his maps. Rodney always emphasized the importance of family with his children. He made sure that the bond between his children, as siblings, was seen as paramount and was always to be cared for. He always welcomed with open arms all additions to his family. Jason, Mark, Janel and Megan were brought in to the fold with a hug, a smile and a joke. He always seemed to know exactly what to say to make them feel at ease and welcomed. He ensured that they instantly felt like part of the family. With the birth of his first grandchild, Alyssa, he became, from then on, known only as ""Big Daddy Papa."" With the births of A.J., Preston, J.P., and Asher, his role as a grandfather became the centerpiece of his life. He always made time for his grandchildren; reading to them, coloring with them, making them lunch and, most importantly to Daddy Papa, introduced them to the black and white monster movies of his youth. Showings of ""Godzilla,"" ""The Blob,"" and many others, became common place and looked forward to. His grandchildren loved him unconditionally, as only children can. A Rosary Service will be held at 7pm on December 30, 2015 at Horan & McConaty Funeral Service, 3101 S Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood CO. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30am on December 31, 2015 at St. Francis Cabrini Parish, 6673 W Chatfield Ave, Littleton, CO with a reception to follow at Horan and McConaty. In lieu of flowers please contribute in his name to the St Jude Children's Research Hospital. We love you Big Daddy Papa. You will be greatly missed. As we travel this road of life, we will always remember to use an atlas, ""keep it between the mayonnaise and the mustard,"" and that ""all roads lead to Yellowstone."" Please leave your memories of Rod and offer condolences to his family by signing the guestbook below.