Frank Schnee: 1928-2003
former German director

LANCASTER, California—Frank Schnee, 75, regional director for the churches in the German-speaking area from 1962 to 1988, died Dec. 12 in Lancaster of complications from Parkinson’s disease.

Mr. Schnee is survived by his wife, Esther; two sons, Mark and his wife, Erin, and Paul; and a grandson, Michael.

A memorial service took place Dec. 14, after the Sunday morning worship service in the Pasadena New Hope Christian Fellowship congregation. The memorial service was conducted by John Karlson, pastor of the Columbus, Ohio, church, who served as regional director in Germany after the Schnees returned to Pasadena.

Life history

Frank was born in Hagen, Westphalia, Germany, on April 12, 1928, and was the youngest of three boys.  He and his family emigrated to Canada when he was 8. Even though he learned English quickly, his family spoke German at home for many years.

Frank met his wife, Esther Stroud, in Canada in 1954, and on June 11, 1955 they were married and moved to Madison, South Dakota, where Mr. Schnee’s father had a feed business. During that time he learned to pilot a plane to deliver feed to farmers in the region.

It was also there that they heard the World Tomorrow radio program over XEG, a Mexican station. Mr. Schnee sold the feed business and began to attend Ambassador College in 1961. In June 1962 the Schnees were sent to open the office in Duesseldorf, Germany.

Mr. Schnee was innovative in methods to advance the circulation of the German language magazine (Klar und Wahr), including finding ways to get literature and magazine articles behind the then Iron Curtain (East Germany). The result was also a growing church membership, which he pastored.

He had a dynamic personality and was always optimistic. An En­glish minister once remarked that if Mr. Schnee’s feet were poured in concrete and he was thrown into the Rhine River, all the way down he would be shouting: “This is the best thing to ever happen to the German church.”

Mr. Schnee was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1987. Mr. and Mrs. Schnee moved back to Pasadena in 1988, after having served 26 years in Germany. In 1996, they moved to Lancaster and bought a home there.

Condolences

Following are some of the condolences Mrs. Schnee received.

Pastoral heart

Frank was a faithful servant, and I appreciate him for his pastoral heart. Even in his older age, he still had a zeal for the cause of the gospel!

Pastor General Joseph Tkach
Pasadena

An indelible mark

I just heard about the passing away of your dear husband. May I on behalf of your bre­thren here in Germany and Aus­tria pass on to you our sincere condolences.

Frank’s legacy will remain in our hearts. As the first and longest serving regional director of the WCG in the German-speaking area, Frank left his indelible mark behind. In this hour of sorrow we join you and your loved ones in prayer and in the certainty that the God of all comfort will pour on you his love and grace.

Frank has gone to join the Lord. His unwavering dedication and loyalty to Christ and to the church will not be forgotten. May we follow his example and carry on with the work that he so loved.

Santiago Lange
WCG director
Germany and Austria

Bridge leading to light

The death of someone so close to you is a terrible loss, someone who has been a cherished part of your life for so long, and has gone through good times with you as well as the bumpier spots in the road. And even if that person has been seriously ill, it still comes as quite a shock when they are no longer there.

Someone once said, “Good people are for us a bridge leading into the light.” We feel Mr. Schnee was someone like that—he certainly was for us, and we often still heard others ask about him and comment on the help he had given them.

 Wolfgang and Linda Thomsen
Eppertshausen, Germany

Death of a giant

We just heard about Frank. Sorry that such a giant had to go. It must have been hard for you to see him go this way. We re­member him with fondness for his example of great zeal and dedication. You are also remembered with fondness for your welcoming smile and hospitality.

Grant and Jenny Spong
Wodonga, Victoria, Australia

Fond memories

Both you and your husband have been instrumental in Henry’s and my life, for which we thank you very much, and both of you will stay in our fond memories.

Henry and Edel Sturcke
Switzerland

Man of vision

Mr. Schnee was a man of vision and infectious enthusiasm. I always will remember the morning meetings in the Bonn Office where he painted his vision of the church for John Karlson and me.  

I remember the many evenings in your home in Troisdorf—the enthusiasm, fun and laughter. When we drove home, Carola and I felt encouraged, lifted up, ready to go forward again and strengthened.

Winfried & Carola Fritz and family
Bonn, Germany

A positive man

We were saddened to hear of the death of your dear husband, Frank. You both served so well over in Germany and with your occasional visit to the United Kingdom.

I enjoyed your hospitality as an Ambassador student from Bricket Wood back in 1962 at Duesseldorf just before the German Office got started. Mr. Schnee was such a positive man and will be much missed.

Edward and Irene Smith
Essex, England

Enthusiasm for Christ

We wanted to say how much Frank was appreciated by those of us who knew and worked with him. His positive enthusiasm for Christ and the church—and for the gospel message to reach others—will always be remembered.

Paul and Pat Kroll
South Pasadena

Kindness and warmth

We have such wonderful memories of you both in Germany, your hospitality as well as Frank’s personal kindness and warmth toward us.

Stuart and Joyce Powell
England

A Tribute to Frank Schnee

By Roger Lippross

I met Frank Schnee in about 1967. We soon began working together on various projects concerning his consuming goal in life, to bring the gospel to the German-speaking people. 

Over the 30-plus years that followed, we worked together on the development and expansion of Klar und Wahr (the German magazine). A good friendship soon developed that included his wife, Esther, and their sons Mark and Paul, who he called his investment in the future.

Frank Schnee was a man of faith and was a visionary who was full of enthusiasm for getting the gospel to the world.

He could never be accused of thinking small. On one of my frequent trips to Germany I remember Frank showing me a castle that was for sale and him saying that it would make a great German Ambassador College. When I asked about the cost, he said that was a detail to be worked out, and he meant it, too.

Frank was eager to help in times of need, once sending me back from a business trip at his expense to help my mother with an urgent family matter. On another trip together I saw an ornate cuckoo clock, but it was beyond my family budget, so I got a little one. That evening at my hotel a package awaited me. Inside was the ornate clock from Frank. I never did see that little one again.

On one of his last church visits, when he was not well, I said I hoped he was OK with the changes in the church. He replied: “Christ is going to get a job done. The question is, are we going to be part of it?”

We stand on the shoulders of old warriors such as Frank Schnee. They have enabled us to see old things in a new way, so for now we say “Danke,” (thank you), and “Auf Wiedersehen,” not good-bye, but farewell till we meet again.

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2004