[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14178]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF JOE SCHNEIDER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TAMMY DUCKWORTH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 2014

  Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Joe 
Schneider. The recent emotion and debate surrounding immigration in the 
U.S. has detracted from some great stories about those immigrants who 
helped to found and shape this country. I would like to share a story 
about one of those immigrants.
  Joe Schneider was born in Kernei, Yugoslavia in 1929. While his 
father was off fighting in World War II, Joe led his displaced family 
on a journey throughout Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and 
ultimately Vienna, Austria. As refugees, the war years were extremely 
challenging and although he lost a leg at age 15, he never lost his 
desire or ability to support and lead his mother and four younger 
siblings.
  His family was given the opportunity to leave Austria and arrived in 
the U.S. as immigrants in 1951. Joe was extremely proud of his German 
heritage but his love for this country was something he never stopped 
talking about. Without speaking a word of English and missing a leg he 
set out to start working as a tailor. He often talked about living in 
the land of opportunity and how it afforded anyone and everyone the 
chance to start and own their own business. He finally lived his dream 
when he founded Joe's Tailor Shop at age 50. For more than 25 years, 
Joe's small family business created employment and provided for more 
than 20 families.
  In 1953, Joe met Katharina Schaeffer, who was also an immigrant from 
Kernei. They had three children, Hermann (Christine), Robert and Monica 
(John) as well as three grandchildren, Michael, Lauren and Megan. The 
family was blessed to be able to celebrate Joe and Katharina's 60th 
wedding anniversary in February of this year.
  For the past ten years Joe had been the President of the Kerneier 
Pleasure Club in Chicago. As a leader in Chicago's German-American 
community, he balanced the preservation of old world traditions with a 
love and belief in the American way of life. The recent World Cup 
soccer match between the U.S. and Germany could have created a conflict 
but Joe clearly supported Team USA.
  I'm not sure he had a bucket list but I do know he had watched a 
family grow and flourish, experienced all the richness life can offer, 
and was able to look back with very few regrets. I also know the 
investment he made in his family and friends paid dividends throughout 
his whole life. Although he will be sadly missed, his love for his 
country and family will live on forever.

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