Frederick Bernard Schnittker

Frederick Bernard Schnittker, 90, passed away July 26, 2011, at Trinity Nursing and Rehab in Merriam, Kansas.

He was born April 30, 1921, in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Emil and Mabel (Lange) Schnittker. Survivors are his wife, Yvonne, a sister, Mary Jane Farmer, a brother, Frank, and many nieces and nephews.

At an early age Fred showed a genius for radio electronics and when WWII broke out he used his skill in telemetry in the Army Signal Corps from 1944 to 1949. Photomapping was being developed as a cold war intelligence tool when Fred was in service and this became his primary career, continuing in a civil service position in the Aerospace Cartographic and Geodetic Survey after his 1959 discharge from the Air Force until his retirement in 1974.

In 1975, he and his wife, Yvonne, chose Shawnee, Kansas, as a place to retire because of friendship with a priest at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Fred invested himself in his community being active in Knights of Columbus, Shawnee Noon Optimists, Sertoma, Shawnee Radio Amateurs Communication Team and Shawnee Wonderscope Children's Museum. He was honored by Governor Joan Finney for his extraordinary service and work when Wonderscope was developed.

The family suggests memorials may be made to Animal Haven, 9800 W. 67th Street, Merriam, Kansas, or a charity of your choice.

Visitation and Funeral Service

Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m., Friday, July 29, 2011, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Entombment in Resurrection Mausoleum, Lenexa, Kansas.