Terry Schneeweis

Terry R. Schneeweis of Port Washington was a quiet, faith-filled man who enjoyed spending time at home and helping at his parish, St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church in Port.

At church, he helped with communion, tended the altar and worked with the food ministry.

At home, he enjoyed watching the news and learning about current events, as well as history. He liked watching war movies and making homemade wine.

Mr. Schneeweis lived for his family and his pets — mostly dogs, but he had a cat once.

“His dogs were always his companion,” his daughter Marcy Culmer said.

Mr. Schneeweis died at Heritage Nursing Home in Port Washington Saturday, Feb. 2. He was 80.

Mr. Schneeweis suffered from dementia, his daughter said.

He was a native of Milwaukee, born on March 1, 1938, to Gilbert and Helen Mathiak Schneeweis.

He graduated from Rufus King High School in 1956.

Mr. Schneeweis enlisted in the U.S. Navy with a dream of working on submarines. He served stateside until being discharged in 1958.

While attending a dance at the Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee, he met Cynthia Zeis. The couple were married in Milwaukee on May 26, 1962.

They built a home in Port Washington in 1965.

Mr. Schneeweis worked on the paint line at Reliance Electric in Milwaukee, retiring as a supervisor after 35 years.

“He was quiet,” his daughter said. “He kept to himself and was a homebody.”

Mr. Schneeweis is survived by his daughters Lori (Blair) Butz of Hendersonville, Tenn., and March (Rick) Culmer of Orlando, Fla., and grandchildren Jenna and Aaron Butz and Celia and Daisy Culmer.

He is further survived by his brothers James (Nyla) of Minnesota and Thomas of North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his wife Cynthia in 2017 and his parents Gilbert and Helen.

No services were being held.

Funeral arrangements were handled through Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington.