James Robert Schnepp
Passed: August 25, 2017
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James Robert Schnepp
Passed: August 25, 2017
Obituary
James Robert Schnepp, 61, of Litchfield Park, AZ, passed away Friday, August 25th from complications of cancer. Born November 14, 1955 in Coronado, CA to the late James and Roberta Schnepp. His family moved from San Bernardino, CA to Litchfield Park, AZ in 1964. He attended Litchfield Park Elementary, at which time he developed his love of swimming and golf. Jim was a participant several times in the Junior World of Golf Tournament in San Diego, CA. He was also the 1969 Arizona PGA Junior Tour Champion. He graduated from Agua Fria High School in 1974. While at Agua Fria, he was on three consecutive State of Arizona Champion Golf Teams and was Individual State Champion in 1971 and 1973. Jim married Lisa Huxford in November 1978 at the Church of Litchfield Park. Their life together took them to different parts of the country until settling in Salinas, CA in 1980. Jim was a golf pro at Salinas Fairways Golf Course for a few years until getting into the produce business. At the time of his passing, Jim was a partner in the Johnny O’Grady Company in Salinas. Jim and Lisa raised their two daughters in Salinas and returned to Litchfield Park in 2005. Jim and his family were very proud of his 9 years of sobriety and his dedication to AA. Jim was a member of the Wigwam Country Club and was senior club champion multiple times. Jim was a loving husband, father, and great friend to many.
Jim is survived by his wife Lisa Schnepp; daughter Jamie Schnepp of Litchfield Park; daughter Robin Schnepp Doria and son in law Michael Doria of Vista, CA; sister Randall Levin and brother in law Jim Levin of Bend, OR; brother in law Randy Huxford of Akron, OH; sister in law Katie Huxford of Sun City, AZ; niece Kate Layser of Doylestown, PA, and nephew Bryan Huxford of Park City, UT. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, September 1, 2017 at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s name can be made to the following charities:
- MD Anderson Cancer Center – https://gifts.mdanderson.org
- Junior Golf Association of Arizona – https://jgaa.org/get-involved/donate/
11 responses to James Robert Schnepp
Andrea " Andy" ( Millspaugh ) Fryt says:
September 6, 2017
Lisa,
So saddened and shocked learning of Jim’s passing.
Memories of Jim casually stepping up to the pool edge and then hurling himself into the pool and out swimming everyone. He was larger than life, yet had the most awesome and graceful butterfly stroke. We all know his epic ness in the golf course…amazing. Jim had that ” light up a room” smile and laugh. But, you know that because it shone more whenever he saw you…I saw it often during the reunion. Lisa, my thoughts, love, and prayers are with you and your family.
Robin Hurt says:
September 13, 2017
Although I never met Jim, my husband Porter played golf with him many times before is passing in May of this year. He always told me what a great guy Jim was and how much he enjoyed playing with him. My heart goes out to you and your family. May God bless your family.
Charlie Drayer says:
October 2, 2017
I will miss you Jim, you did wonders for my sobriety, and downright save my life few times. I love you brother
Marc Allred says:
April 10, 2019
Lisa
I was so sadden to hear about Jim’s passing. Hope you and your family are doing well. Sorry for your loss.
Reade Whitwell says:
October 15, 2022
Everyone,
Jim has been gone awhile now. I wasn’t aware of his passing until over a year later when the passing of another friend from our days in Litchfield Park got me looking around and I found him already gone. Jim arrived at Litchfield Park Elementary my 3rd Grade year. Litchfield was small and insular, everybody knew everybody so new arrivals were viewed, at least by me, with a certain skepticism. When, at the end of our first day in Lenore Poquette’s 3rd Grade class, Jim followed me as I left school heading home, talking the whole way, I didn’t know what to think about this stranger. We were about halfway to my house on the Wigwam grounds North of the park that was across Litchfield Road from the business block when I stopped and asked him, “What do you want?” He replied, “I want to be your friend.” I remember thinking, “Really? Well it’s a direct answer and it looks like he means it so…what the heck?”
Jim became my best friend and remained so until our paths diverged as often happens in adolescence. But while we were close he took vacations with my folks and I, his Dad got us into the movies and the Officer’s Club at Luke Air Force Base, and we played a million games from Army to Football to Fantasies about all our favorite TV shows. We endured our first crushes and went crazy for the music of those times, I a little moreso.
Our lives were very different in High School and beyond but I recall being in Litchfield visiting my Mother when I heard that his Mother had passed, so I went to see him. It was beyond strange to stand on the front porch of that house on Fairway Drive again as I had so many times in my youth. Jim opened the door and invited me in. He made us both a drink at the bar in the kitchen with the “Fly Big Jets” wallpaper behind it just as I remembered from the 1960’s. We went out into the back yard and had a long talk about the children we were, the teenagers on very different trajectories we’d become and where we were now and how to reconcile. It all got talked out and, while the distance between our residences made getting together a rarity, when it did happen we found our way back and I remembered the crazy, lovable nut I’d known and adored all those years ago.
I miss him and will do so until we experience each other again. I’m so lucky to have known him and for his having chosen me to be his friend.