Roger L Schonewald Hillsborough Township, New Jersey Obituary

Roger L Schonewald

Roger Schonewald, 91 of Skillman, NJ passed away on July 16, 2021. Roger was born September 27, 1929 to the late George Schonewald and Virginia Schonewald (Siebert) in New York City. He graduated in 1951 from MIT with a degree Mechanical Engineering. While at MIT he was a member of the crew team which was the start of a life-long interest in rowing. Later he received a Master’s Degree from the University of Connecticut. Roger spent two years in the Air Force stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. In 1956, while working for Fairchild Engine Div in Farmingdale, NY (Long Island), Roger met the love of his life, Viola (Vi) Bannon. They married on November 3, 1956 and were together for 65 wonderful years. During their life together they lived in Huntington, NY; Norwich, CT; Cumberland, RI; and, for the last 52 years, in Montgomery Township, NJ. In 1986 Roger retired from the Ingersoll-Rand (I-R)Research Center, then in Montgomery. That was the beginning of a second career developing software as a Consultant for I-R writing pump selection programs. As a life-long Catholic, Roger was a man of strong faith who loved the Lord and his Church. He was an active member of St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Skillman, NJ from its inception. For many years he volunteered with Hospice and Recording for the Blind. Roger rowed with the Carnegie Lake Rowing Assoc. (CLARA). He was a regular at dawn workouts on the lake. He enjoyed it so much that he got his own single scull. After a morning of writing software, he would head to Carnegie Lake for an hour of rowing where he says that he solved most of his software issues. Roger was a regular participant in the CLARA annual Thanksgiving “Turkey Row” which, one time, included one of his college-aged grandsons rowing with him. Florida vacations were special to Roger and Vi as they would always look forward to an annual spring vacation to Sanibel Island, FL. It was a time filled with playing tennis, going for bike rides, visiting the Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve, and hosting visits from children and grandchildren. Back in Montgomery, the spring and summers were times to tend the large vegetable and flower gardens in their backyard. It was a special treat for grandkids to join grandpa in picking the vegetables for that night’s dinner. That night Roger’s homemade bread, along with the “festive rutabaga” were treats that all looked forward to. Roger and Vi filled their home with love and special times. Roger is survived by his wife, Vi; son Roger Schonewald and his wife Valerie; son Richard Schonewald and his wife Judy; and daughter Susan Koval and her husband Michael. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Roger is predeceased by his brother, George Schonewald and his wife Margy; and one grandchild, Roger Frederick Schonewald. Roger is remembered by family and friends for his loving heart and his big smile. He will be missed. A visitation will be held Monday, August 2, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Hillsborough Funeral Home. The visitation will begin with a prayer service at 6:00 pm and visiting with the family afterwards. The funeral service will take place on the next day, August 3rd at 10:00am at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. The Rite of Committal and Burial will take place afterwards at the Rocky Hill Cemetery.
September 27, 1929 - July 16, 202109/27/192907/16/2021
Share Obituary:

Share a memory

Add to your memory
Photos/Video
Candle
Mementos

Obituary

Roger Schonewald, 91 of Skillman, NJ passed away on July 16, 2021. Roger was born September 27, 1929 to the late George Schonewald and Virginia Schonewald (Siebert) in New York City. He graduated in 1951 from MIT with a degree Mechanical Engineering. While at MIT he was a member of the crew team which was the start of a life-long interest in rowing. Later he received a Master’s Degree from the University of Connecticut. Roger spent two years in the Air Force stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. In 1956, while working for Fairchild Engine Div in Farmingdale, NY (Long Island), Roger met the love of his life, Viola (Vi) Bannon. They married on November 3, 1956 and were together for 65 wonderful years. During their life together they lived in Huntington, NY; Norwich, CT; Cumberland, RI; and, for the last 52 years, in Montgomery Township, NJ. In 1986 Roger retired from the Ingersoll-Rand (I-R)Research Center, then in Montgomery. That was the beginning of a second career developing software as a Consultant for I-R writing pump selection programs. As a life-long Catholic, Roger was a man of strong faith who loved the Lord and his Church. He was an active member of St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Skillman, NJ from its inception. For many years he volunteered with Hospice and Recording for the Blind. Roger rowed with the Carnegie Lake Rowing Assoc. (CLARA). He was a regular at dawn workouts on the lake. He enjoyed it so much that he got his own single scull. After a morning of writing software, he would head to Carnegie Lake for an hour of rowing where he says that he solved most of his software issues. Roger was a regular participant in the CLARA annual Thanksgiving “Turkey Row” which, one time, included one of his college-aged grandsons rowing with him. Florida vacations were special to Roger and Vi as they would always look forward to an annual spring vacation to Sanibel Island, FL. It was a time filled with playing tennis, going for bike rides, visiting the Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve, and hosting visits from children and grandchildren. Back in Montgomery, the spring and summers were times to tend the large vegetable and flower gardens in their backyard. It was a special treat for grandkids to join grandpa in picking the vegetables for that night’s dinner. That night Roger’s homemade bread, along with the “festive rutabaga” were treats that all looked forward to. Roger and Vi filled their home with love and special times. Roger is survived by his wife, Vi; son Roger Schonewald and his wife Valerie; son Richard Schonewald and his wife Judy; and daughter Susan Koval and her husband Michael. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Roger is predeceased by his brother, George Schonewald and his wife Margy; and one grandchild, Roger Frederick Schonewald. Roger is remembered by family and friends for his loving heart and his big smile. He will be missed. A visitation will be held Monday, August 2, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Hillsborough Funeral Home. The visitation will begin with a prayer service at 6:00 pm and visiting with the family afterwards. The funeral service will take place on the next day, August 3rd at 10:00am at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. The Rite of Committal and Burial will take place afterwards at the Rocky Hill Cemetery.

To plant a tree in memory of Roger L Schonewald, please visit our Tribute Store.

Events

Aug
02
Visitation
Monday, August 02 2021
06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Hillsborough Funeral Home
796 US-206
Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail
Aug
03
Mass
Tuesday, August 03 2021
10:00 AM
St. Charles Borromeo
47 Skillman Rd
Skillman, NJ 08558
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail
Final Resting Place
Rocky Hill Cemetery
129 Montgomery Rd
Rocky Hill, NJ 08553
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail