Date of death: 05/02/2020
Saint Meinrad Class: DP 2005
Levi M. Schnellenberger, 77, of Jasper, died Saturday, May 2, at the Franciscan Hospice House in Indianapolis. He was born in St. Meinrad October 7, 1942, to Edwin and Gertrude (Vaal) Schnellenberger. He married Thelma Waninger August 26, 1972.
Levi was a 1960 graduate of St. Ferdinand High School. He served in the United States Army from 1961 to 1964. His service included 26 months in Hanau, Germany. He attended Lockyear Business College in Evansville, Brescia College in Owensboro, and Indiana State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business administration. He volunteered with youth sports in Jasper as a coach and board member, including the Jasper Youth Soccer and Little League Baseball boards, softball, basketball, and the Dubois County Track Club. He enjoyed his years with the Jasper Band Parents, where he served as treasurer for many years. He was a member of the Dubois County John Purdue Club as well as a number of accounting organizations. He worked as a CPA and retired from Dubois REC. Following his retirement he was ordained a permanent deacon in 2005 for the Diocese of Evansville through Saint Meinrad School of Theology. He served as a deacon for St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper for 15 years, where he was a religious education teacher, lector, and member of Friday Memorial Hospital Communion Committee, Legion of Mary, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He enjoyed yearly vacations with his family, was an avid Purdue University sports fan and football season ticket holder. He also loved the Indianapolis 500, was a lifelong learner, and enjoyed reading.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Thelma Schnellenberger; two daughters, Sandra Haney and husband Pat, Shelbyville, and Karen Gerhart and husband Keith, Plainfield; one son, John Schnellenberger and wife Julia, Stow, Ohio; seven grandchildren, Brooke, Joshua, Bryce, Natalie, Andrew, Emilie, and Luke; two sisters, Doris Seng and husband Charles, Jasper, and Betty Millay, Evansville; and a number of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one sister, Marlene Pund, one brother, Walter Schnellenberger.one nephew, Rodger Schnellenberger, and one grandson, Ryan Schnellenberger.