Roger Neil Schindler, 86, of Mooresville, N.C., passed away Monday, March 17, 2025.
Roger was born September 5, 1938, to loving parents Wilbur and Claudia Schindler. Roger spent his early years growing up in various parts of Nebraska, calling Alliance, Neb., home. He was a talented and hardworking youth participating in singing, playing trombone and violin, and working at a music store selling instruments and Hi-Fi systems. He even made the family’s first TV out of two broken TV sets from the store.
During the summer after high school graduation in Lincoln, Neb., Roger met Mary Lillian Dieterich, the love of his life. He built a boat and heard that Mary had water skis! They married August 9, 1959, and began their life’s journey together. Together they enjoyed camping, fishing, water skiing, traveling, exploring the outdoors, sailing, and spending time at their little cottage. Roger also loved snow skiing, flying model airplanes, and golf.
Both attended the University of Nebraska. Roger received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering. He also played the trombone for the university marching band for the six years he was there. In 1966 Roger completed his education with a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.
Hoping to land a position in a sunny-warm location, Roger and Mary chose Eastman Kodak Corporation in Fairport, N.Y., to raise their family. Roger was the director of Research & Development until his retirement in 1992.
Roger was a sparkplug leader for the family. He cooked, planted things, built furniture, sheds, a family room addition, two bunkhouses, and even a swimming pool. He led their expanding family with the birth of their son, Andy, followed by twin daughters, Karrie and Jenny. Later, three teenagers became four as God expanded and blessed the family with daughter Laurie.
Roger was a passionate believer in Jesus Christ. He accepted Christ at a young age while playing trombone for a Billy Graham Crusade. He later grew even deeper in his faith through a marriage encounter program. Roger and Mary used their many talents and resources to host youth events at the beloved family cottage, cooked endless amounts of hamburgers and hotdogs in the rain and supported many other Christian or church organizations. Following his retirement from Kodak, Roger and Mary were full-time volunteers for 10 years for the NE region of HCJB World Radio which is still doing medical ministry and communication of the Gospel around the world as Reach Beyond.
Roger and Mary finally made it to sunny and warm Bluffton, S.C., in 2006 becoming true “Southerners” where they were very involved in Community Bible Church of Beaufort, S.C.
Roger is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary; brother Darrel (Arizona); son Andy (Dotti) of Georgia; daughters Karrie (Jeff Lehe) of North Carolina, Jenny (Mark McKrell) of New York and Laurie (Mike Bossert) of Colorado. Together they have 13 grandchildren, Zachary, Joshua, Matthew, Timothy, Katie, Chris, Ben, Jonathan, Samuel, Ezekiel, David, Jim, and Stephen; and currently 13 great grandchildren, Josiah, Silas, Malachi, Rhodes, Sutton, Elijah, Ella, Sarah, Eden, Emmett, Charlotte, Charlie, and Sammy.
Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. EST on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Peninsula Baptist Church (687 Brawley School Road, Mooresville, NC 28117) with funeral service following at 11 a.m. EST at the church. Burial will follow the service at Glenwood Memorial Park, Mooresville.
Donations or memorials can be made to Peninsula Baptist Church, 687 Brawley School Road, Mooresville, NC 28117.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the Schindler family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.