John George Schneider III, age 84, passed away on Wednesday October 8, 2014.  John was born in Massillon, Ohio on January 25, 1930 to the late John George II and Mildreth (Shaffer) Schneider.  In 1948, he graduated as a cadet sergeant from the Greenbrier Military School, the oldest private military school in the history of the United States. After which, John attended Kent State University and further trained at the New York Institute of Photography, which prepared him for his career in photography.  John owned the Weslin Studio in Massillon, Ohio for over 50 years, and has taken the pictures of nearly all the school children, graduates, and newlyweds in the area for decades.  John was active in the community being a member of the Rotary club, the Moose club, the Tiger Gun club, the Labrador Retriever club, the Hall of Fame Wood Carvers, the Professional Photographers of Ohio, St Mary's Catholic Church and was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus.  John met his wife, Anne, at Kent State, with whom he remained married for 62 years. They were deeply in love and John passed away at her side.  John was an avid sportsman and lover of the outdoors.  He was a relentless fisherman and waterfowler, having once held the Tennessee state record for trophy walleye, and bagged every unprotected species of duck and goose in North America.  His love of waterfowl extended to art.  John became a ribbon-winning carver of decorative duck decoys as well as an avid collector. In addition to his parents, John is preceded in death by his daughters Peggy (Salaika) of Danbury, Texas and Natalia Schneider of Massillon. John is survived by his wife Anne, daughter Andrea and three sons John George IV, Anthony, all of Massillon, and Joel Schneider of Middletown, Maryland. In addition, John is survived by ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

There will be calling hours at Heitger Funeral Home, 639 First St NE. in Massillon on Sunday, October 12 from 5-8pm with Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Honor Guard and Monday at 9 am at the funeral home prior to the mass. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Monday, October 13, 2014 at 10 am with Rev. Edward Gretchko celebrant.
Burial to follow at St. Mary Cemetery.
Please leave condolences at Heitger.com
HEITGER MASSILLON 330-833-3248