Bernard C. "Ben" Schneider

Bernard C. “Ben” Schneider Former Hastings resident Bernard C. “Ben” Schneider, 93, passed away Saturday, August 10, 2024, at The Grace Space, Lincoln, NE. 

Ben was born October 2, 1930, in Lawrence, NE, to Matthew and Gertrude (Bencken) Schneider. He grew up on a farm and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1948. Over the years he talked fondly about the days he spent playing baseball and fishing on the Little Blue River with his brothers and his friends. 

Ben married Joan Karmazin in 1952. At that time they moved to Hastings, NE. Together they raised five children with many family gatherings, card games, and family camping and fishing trips in the bus that he and his brother, Jim, remodeled into a camper. He also enjoyed numerous hunting and fishing trips with his sons. Ben called his kids each year on their birthdays, regardless of how old they were, and sang them “happy birthday”. Ben and Joan later divorced. 

Ben married Marilyn (Bleyhl) Nitzel on June 13, 1984, in Las Vegas, NV. During their 40 years of marriage, Ben and Marilyn enjoyed playing board games, doing crossword puzzles, and talking and laughing together. They also enjoyed many camping trips in CO, NE, and SD, and other states, and spending time with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ben loved to dance and to hunt with his dog, Jake. He volunteered for two summers at Red Feather Lakes, CO, and as Grandpa Ben at Royal Family Kids Camp where he fished and gave lots of hugs to the kids. 

Prior to being the General Manager for AgTronics/Coleman/Triad for 33 years, Ben worked for Western Land Roller, Sherwin Williams, and Peter Pan. He retired from Triad in 1999. Upon his retirement, Ben and Marilyn traveled in England and Scotland. 

Ben was a member of First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He spent most of his life as a Hastings resident until moving to Lincoln in 2022. Ben spent the last eight months of his life at The Grace Space where he was loved and respected and received exceptional care. 

Ben was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Gilbert Schneider and Clarence Schneider, grandson Preston Nathan, and great-granddaughter Bella Rose Snyder. 

SURVIVORS: 
Wife: 
    Marilyn Schneider – Lincoln, NE 
Children & Spouses: 
    Diane & Steve Barton – Lincoln, NE 
    Dale & Judy Schneider – Whitesboro, TX 
    Barb & Rich Renner – Cheyenne, WY 
    Nancy Nathan & Troy Leitschuck – Sargent, NE 
    Randy & Eva Schneider – Kenesaw, NE 
Step-Children & Spouses: 
    Becky & Dan Buhr – Lincoln, NE 
    Jeff & De Nitzel – Phoenix, AZ 
    Angie & Brian Gage – Lincoln, NE 
Grandchildren: 
    11 
Great-Grandchildren: 
    14 
Great-Great-Grandchildren: 
    3 
Step-Grandchildren: 
    15 
Step-Great-Grandchildren: 
    37 
Step-Great-Great-Grandchildren: 
    2 
Brother: 
    Jim Schneider – Lincoln, NE 

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, August 16, at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings with Pastor Joel Remmers officiating. Burial will be at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings following the service. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Memorials may be given to the Paul and Neva Grace Foundation which funds The Grace Space Hospice House or to First St. Paul's Lutheran Church. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Ben’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page.