Jonathan Henry Schnepp
Jonathan Henry Schnepp, 29, was welcomed into Heaven with the perfect love of His Father on June 29, 2011. Jonathan was born on July 25, 1981 in Clay Center, KS.
Growing up Jonathan spent his summers in Hot Springs Village with his Grandparents; Bob and Doris Weaverling and he spoke often of his time there and planned to visit the springs with Jennifer and his children. He loved to swim, even as an adult, and joined the local swim team when he was about 7 years old. He began horseback riding with his father and loved his horse, Buck. Riding through the fields with his father was one of his most treasured memories. He went on to teach others how to ride and started a horse training business where he often worked with more difficult horses. He could not stop smiling when he was on a horse. Even the moments when he ended up on the ground, he smiled and got right back up.
Jonathan left home at 17 and went on to join the Army on December 30, 2004 and was later discharged due to a knee injury. He loved the military and he loved this country. If he ever heard someone criticize the military he was the first to remind them that it is their service that allows us to have the freedoms we have today and we should be thankful, and support our military, even if we disagree with the military actions. One of his favorite says was “if you don’t stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them because this is the home of the free because of the brave.”
He met his wife on August 20, 2005 and married Jennifer Leigh Godwin Wagner on August 18, 2007. He often woke his wife up saying “good morning beautiful” and singing to her songs of love. From the first moment he spent with his step-children he fell in love with them and considered them his own. He loved them and spoke of them often to anyone who would listen. Jonathan and Jennifer had a son on October 7, 2008, Jerod Thomas Schnepp. Jonathan named his son after a Kansas City football player, Derrick Thomas, who he watched growing up. He collected Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals baseball cards for his sons and thought of his girls as his little princesses. He was a wonderful father and loving husband.
He believed in protecting his family and others in his community. In March 2009 while working for Blue Moon Security he was brutally attacked while protecting an apartment complex. It was this attack led him back to Christ and he was baptized at Sagemont Church on August 29, 2010. He went on to work for TDCJ at the Estelle and Ferguson Unit where he enjoyed spreading God’s Word whenever the opportunity arose.
He was met in Heaven by his grandparents, Wyman Noah Schnepp and Willa Mae Schnepp as well as his uncle Thomas Christopher Schnepp.
He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Leigh Schnepp and their five children; Jerod Thomas Schnepp, Hope Erin Wagner, 14, Samantha Angeline Wagner, 13, Jonathan Zachary Wagner, 11, and Robert Joseph Wagner, 9. He is also survived by his grandparents Robert and Doris Weaverling of Kansas City, MO; his two nieces Lorien and Natalie Frey and his sister Kelly Christine Schnepp Frey of Lee’s Summit, MO, and her husband Michael Frey, his mother Nancy Weaverling Merryman and step-father, Randy Merryman and step-brother, Taylor Merryman of Independence, MO and his father Charles Henry Schnepp of Clark, MO; his Uncle Jack & Aunt Lynne Weaverling, their children Kalyn, Connor and Lucas Weaverling of The Woodlands, TX; his aunt Jamie and uncle Mike Prescott, their children Kristin and Matthew ; his aunt Susan and uncle Mark Simpson and their son Story; his aunt Margaret Donaldson, her two children; Charlie Alynn Eubanks and Nicolas Donaldson and his aunt Sheryl Kendall and her three sons, Robert, Sean and Alex Kendall.
He had many friends he considered as family; Kathy Grindstaff, Rebecca Fox, Melissa Floyd, Boo Williamson, Robert Pena, Steven Bulman, and Shaun Patterson.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 6, 2011, from 5:00pm until 8:00pm, and the Memorial Service celebrating Jonathan’s life will be Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 7:00pm, both held at Niday Funeral Home – Beamer Chapel.
