Schnier, Lynn James
Age 71, died in his Norwood Park home surrounded by family and friends on September 27, 2016, from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Born July 19, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, he was the only child of Theodore and Margaret Schnier ( nee Lynn). A lifelong resident of Norwood Park, he went to elementary school at St. Thecla and graduated from Notre Dame High School for Boys in 1963. He went on to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degree in history from Northern Illinois University as well as his master’s degree in political science from Northeastern Illinois University.
Lynn’s life changed forever in Summer 1968 when he met his future wife and soul mate, Gloria, as a foreign exchange student in Mexico and proposing to her a few weeks after their initial introduction. Lynn taught at the college level for over 20 years and also owned and operated DataSource Reports. He was a true Renaissance man; there was nothing he wasn’t able to accomplish. Whether it was educating thousands of students; starting his own company; faithfully restoring a Civil War homestead; protesting at the 1968 Democratic National Convention; rebuilding a car engine; canoeing through the Boundary Waters; traveling the US with his oldest children in a VW Bus; or coaching his youngest son from the sidelines of every football game, he was always able to accomplish what he set out to do. His favorite saying to his children was “Anything can be fixed except a broken heart.” One of his deepest joys and memorable achievements was cooking over 40 years of delicious Thanksgiving dinners with his table surrounded by family, friends, and students. A chair was always open for anyone who wanted to join.
Lynn was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Margaret Schnier ( née Lynn); his stepfather, Francis Flynn; his cousin, John Schnier; and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Gloria Schnier ( nee Rock) and their three children, Dr. Kathleen Schnier ( Paul Schumann), Brian Schnier and James “Jimmy” Schnier. He will be forever remembered through the lives of his precious grandchildren, Brian, Grace, Jimmy, Caroline and Nathaniel. Visitation Friday 1: 00 - 8: 00 p. m. at Malec &
Sons Funeral Home, 6000 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago. Memorial service for Lynn Schnier will be held at 7: 00 p. m. at the funeral home. Cremation will follow.
The family requests that you raise a glass of German beer in his honor and memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or Mother Cabrini League.