The Story of Schneider's Service
- Schneider's Schnitzel Service
- Apr 12
- 2 min read
Donald Schneider was born in 1920 to Mathias and Mary Schneider in the small Erie Canal town of Rexford in upstate New York. He was the youngest of seven children, with two brothers and four sisters. As a toddler he was tagged with the nickname “Bink” because he mispronounced “drink.” He spent his childhood fishing in the Mohawk River, going to the local Luna amusement park, or with his brother Russell, greasing the local trolley tracks on the hill in Schenectady so trolleys couldn’t climb the hill. When war broke out he enlisted in the Navy, and served as a gunners mate on the light cruiser USS Brooklyn seeing action off the coast of Africa and Europe with some occasional convoy escort duty in the North Atlantic. It was during the war that he met the love of his life Myrtle in Philadelphia. They were married during the war and were together until her death in 1976. Together they had five children, including Ted's father, Jan. After the Navy, he came home to Rexford and for a short period of time worked in the gas station, which years later would become “Schneiders Service.” He went on to work at the General Electric company in Schenectady as a machinist. In 1959 he left General Electric and took over the operation of the gas station in Rexford, now “Schneiders Service.” During that time he also ran a very successful business delivering bulk water with a one-thousand gallon water truck. The service station carried the Esso brand when he took over operation but soon afterward he switched to Texaco. The station was very successful. “Bink” had a big heart and extended a great deal of credit to people who needed their vehicles but were short on cash. In 1964 the state of New York deemed it necessary to replace the bridge across the Mohawk River which was adjacent to the service station. The state took over the land in an act of eminent domain and the structure was torn down and the business closed. After this Don continued his water delivery service and returned to working at General Electric on the night shift until his retirement. Don passed away on February 18, 1989 and is buried next to his wife and infant son.
Ted was inspired by Grandpa Schneider and decided to continue his family legacy by naming our restaurant in honor of Schneider's Service. Make sure to look for Grandpa Schneider's picture when you visit us for schnitzel!
