Dale E. Schnur Sr.
Dale E. Schnur Sr., 76, of Butler went to his heavenly home at 2:35 a.m. Thursday.
He was born Feb. 22, 1941, in Butler, the second son of the late George J. and Marcella F. Geibel Schnur. He married Linda Haust Schnur on Oct. 10, 1964.
A true leader, Dale decided in 1957, at age 16, to form a band and led the five-piece band known as the Rhythm Rockers until 1983, which according to Dale was the best band in Butler County at one time.
Dale graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. While at IUP, he pitched for the IUP Indians baseball team and was proud to have struck out Mike Ditka, who played for Pitt. After college, he taught at St. Peter Catholic School in Butler.
Dale continued his life-long love of baseball and furthered the family baseball tradition and held official positions at the East Butler Baseball Association and managed baseball teams at all levels for the Northern Butler County Baseball League, including several years as the manager of the East Butler Legion Baseball team. He also was instrumental in organizing the first East Butler Pony League team.
At IUP, Dale was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps and served two years of active duty in Ingrandes, France. After active duty, he served in the U.S. National Guard as an SI with the rank of captain.
Dale and his wife owned and operated Lindale Foodservice Corp. of Butler from 1976 to 1991. After selling his business, Dale taught science at Boynton Beach High School in Florida for eight years.
Dale strongly believed in entrepreneurial enterprise and became involved in several networking endeavors. He became an Amway Direct Distributor and led several other organizations of more than 1,000 people. Dale was dedicated to his family and loved them all dearly.
St. Peter Catholic Church of Butler has one less life-long member. He was a devout Catholic, sang in the choir for several years and watched the Eternal Word Television Network. He was the president of the Pennsylvanians for Human Life in the 1970s.
He is survived by his wife, Linda L. Haust Schnur; his four sons, Dale E. Schnur Jr., Christopher M. (Lynanne) Schnur, both of Butler, Richard A. (Erinn) Schnur of Jupiter, Fla., and George F. (Janel) Schnur of Clarkston, Mich.; and his two daughters, Tamara L. (Thomas) Netzel of Alexandria, Va., and Carina J. (Steven) Shay of Butler; his grandchildren, who he loved dearly, Tyler, Brynne and Ian Shay, Jacob and Benjamin Netzel, Kristin, Annalyn, Michael and Jaden Schnur, Ricky, Emalee, Elisabeth and Liam Schnur, and Riley and Brielle Schnur.
He also is survived by his uncle, Victor Geibel; his aunt, Janice Geibel, both of Butler; and his siblings, James R. (Nancy) Schnur, Dess E. (Bernadette) Schnur, Beverly A. McAnallen, all of Butler, and Georgia C. (Todd) Sommariva of Williamsburg, Va.
SCHNUR — Friends of Dale E. Schnur Sr., who died Thursday, March 16, 2017, will be received from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 127 Franklin St., Butler. The Rev. Harry Bielewicz, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Herman.The Womens Council of St. Peter will meet at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the church to recite the rosary.For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.geibelfuneralhome.com.
