Jerry Lee Schnitzius

Jerry Lee Schnitzius, known affectionately as Jerry to his friends and family, left this world with the same quiet dignity with which he lived his life, on April 30, 2024, in Polk, Ohio. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, on October 3, 1946, Jerry's journey through life was as rich and fulfilling as his favorite fishing spots were full of catch.

Jerry, the son of the late Paul Lambert Schnitzius and Faye Gregory Schnitzius, learned early on the value of family, a good laugh, and the sweet science of fixing just about anything that had gears. His childhood in Portsmouth set the stage for a life well-lived, marked by his graduation from Northwest High School in 1964. He carried the spirit of his hometown with him, as steadfast as the Ohio River itself.

After high school, Jerry answered the call of duty and served his country as a Navy man. His stories from those days would later bubble up like a well-cast lure on a still pond, always with a punchline that left everyone grinning. Post-service, he took on the working world with the same dedication, putting in honest work at Harvert and Walker Brick Yard and Hedstrom. He even found joy in the simple pleasure of driving for the Amish, where his knack for storytelling no doubt made the journeys seem shorter.

Jerry's talents extended beyond his professional life; he was a mechanic who could coax life back into the most stubborn of engines. His hands were rarely clean, but that's because they were always busy. Fishing was his retreat, where he'd reel in the big ones and the tall tales with equal skill.

The words that best encapsulated Jerry were handy, loving, and funny. He was the kind of man who could fix a leaky faucet with one hand while making you snort-laugh with a joke with the other. His humor was as infectious as his generosity, and his legacy is as enduring as the countless engines still purring thanks to his magic touch.

Jerry was preceded in death by his brother Paul Burton Schnitzius and brothers-in-law Ronald Lee Sheets and Ronald Jay Grooms. He is survived by a crew just as lively as he was: Nikki Lee (Joseph) Berry, April Dawn (Joshua) Clausing, and Danielle Lynn (Robert) Hagen, who will carry on his knack for life's simple joys. His sisters Marilyn Jeanette Sheets, Sheryl Lynn Grooms, and Jenne Elaine (Mark) Teeters will no doubt miss his impromptu comedy shows at family gatherings.

Jerry's legacy also includes a vibrant array of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, all of whom inherited his twinkling eyes and easy smile. They'll remember him every time they tell a joke, cast a line, or turn a wrench—because Jerry was not just a man, he was an experience, a chapter in their lives filled with laughter and love.

So, let's not say Jerry has "passed away." Let's say he's gone fishing in the sky, where the waters are calm, the fish are biting, and the punchlines always land. He's probably up there now, swapping stories with the angels and pointing out all the things they need to fix. And just like that, heaven is a little brighter and a whole lot funnier.

Jerry's story may have reached its final page, but like any good comedian, he knew timing was everything. His curtain call came at the end of a life well-lived, full of moments that will echo in the laughter of his loved ones for generations to come. Jerry Lee Schnitzius: a handyman, a veteran, a fisherman, a mechanic, a storyteller, a brother, an uncle, a father, and a friend. The world is a little less bright without him, but oh, how he made it shine while he was here.