Philipp F. Schneider

Philipp F. Schneider, 80, of Benton Harbor, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. He is survived by older brother, Otto J. Schneider, of Berrien Springs; his niece, Concepcion Schneider of Oak Park, Ill.; nephews, Otto Schneider of St. Charles, Ill., Elek Schneider of Chicago, and Bleyer Schneider of Las Vegas; and his former wife, Renate Schneider, of Benton Harbor. His sister, Ingeborg DiLeo (nee Schneider) preceded him in death.

Born in Hungary in 1940 to parents Georg and Elisabeth Schneider (nee Zimmermann), he and his family, along with millions of ethnic Germans, were forcibly expelled from Hungary in 1945 and forced to repatriate to Germany, their ancestral homeland.

In 1952, Philipp emigrated to the United States with his parents and siblings. Upon graduating from high school, Philipp joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany for several years, where he married Renate Greif. They returned to the United States, settling in St. Joseph, where Philipp began his life-long career with the Benton Harbor Police Department, from which he retired at the rank of lieutenant.

Upon retiring from the police force, Philipp was able to enjoy his many hobbies, including working on cars and motorcycles, DIY projects around his house, building models and caring for his dog.

His family will remember him as a vibrant, caring and talented brother and uncle, and he will be missed.

Visitation will be 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 at Allred Funeral Home in Berrien Springs, followed by a private Mass of Christian Burial at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Berrien Springs, with burial at Rose Hill Cemetery. www.allredfuneralhome.com.