James Roger Schneider, 84, of Huntsville, AL, passed away on March 23, 2025, in his home surrounded by loving family. Jim, as he was affectionately called by family and friends, was born on June 3, 1940, in Hunter, KS, the son of Fred and Lenora Schneider. As a boy, he excelled in school and was active on his parents’ farm. Jim graduated from Salina High School (1958) and, later as an adult, went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (1986).
Jim Schneider was a Senior Program Manager at Sanmina-SCI, where he worked for over 50 years. He was one of the company’s first 100 employees and worked directly with the SCI founder, Olin B. King. During his remarkable career at Sanmina-SCI, he oversaw and managed a number of notable defense and space exploration projects, including the Apollo 13 Mission and important defense contracts.
Jim was a talented man who especially enjoyed working with his hands, including woodworking, knife making, stained glass projects, as well as furniture and home building projects. For much of his life, Jim was a very active outdoorsman and enjoyed waterskiing, fishing, and other water recreation activities with his family. He was also a skilled marksman and enjoyed skeet shooting and target practice with family, and even taught his wife, Carolyn, how to shoot. Favorite memories of Jim include his travels with Carolyn to Germany, France, the Bahamas, and Hawaii, as well as travel in other U.S. states. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who never forgot a birthday or anniversary. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Remaining to cherish Jim Schneider’s memory are his wife of nearly 37 years, Carolyn Schneider; his sons, Vince and Yates Schneider; his stepdaughter, Stephanie Spray; grandchildren, Alyssa Newby, Chance Schneider, Mark Schneider, Julian Somos-Spray; and great-grandson, Emery “EJ” Range Jr. Also surviving are the partners of his loved ones: Marcelo Somos, partner of Stephanie Spray, and Emery Range, partner of Alyssa Newby.
Jim Schneider was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Lenora Schneider; two sisters, Elizabeth Jane and Wavelyn Schneider; and his beloved sons, Vance and Yancey Schneider.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Maple Hill Cemetery.
