- Aaron Joel Schneblin, age 51, of Morton, IL passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2022. He is survived by his loving wife, Ranell Burrier, son, Joel L. Schneblin and his mother Tara Daringer of Washington, brother, Adam (Leah) Schneblin of Morton, in-laws, George and Sandra Burrier of Morton, sister in-law, Gwen (Mike) Kic of Schaumburg, Aunt Jeannie Schneblin Bube of Lewistown, Aunt Jill Schneblin Smallwood of Canton and five nieces and nephews, Nathan, Sophie & Tess Schneblin of Morton and Madison & Mollie Kic of Schaumburg. His parents, Joel F. and Barbara Smith Schneblin, proceeded him in death.
A public visitation will be held on Sunday, July 17, 2022 from 2:00pm-5:00pm and another public visitation hour on Monday, July 18, 2022 from 10:00am-11:00am. Aaron’s funeral service will begin at 11:00am with lunch to follow in the fellowship hall. All visitations and the funeral service will be at Pekin First Church of the Nazarene 3514 Broadway Road Pekin, IL.
Aaron, please consider this obituary your first love letter in heaven from me, your earthly wife.
Aaron grew up in East Peoria, IL. From the age he could say fire, meat, God and farm Aaron was his father’s shadow. Through the years, he accompanied him to East Peoria Fire Stations, Raber Packing Company, their home church and the Schneblin family farm. Aaron’s knowledge and love of firefighting, butchering, cooking for a crowd, and farming came first-hand from his father. Aaron was nicknamed “Little Joe” (not Joel) for a good reason. He WAS Joel Sr, two point o. Aaron’s core values and beliefs were a direct result of his christian upbringing.
Aaron went on to study at several Illinois colleges and universities. He completed multiple degrees and certifications in computer engineering, electrical engineering and architecture. He made a living as a computer engineer for multiple companies and formed two businesses of his own using his God-given talents and abilities. He was a problem-solver through and through and got a high when he was given a new challenge to fix!! He worked for small town companies, well-renowned companies and public figures. In his leisure time, he enjoyed photography, teaching fire & paramedic classes, sound & light boarding for community events & his church, cooking & hosting dinners with Ranell, storm chasing and woodworking just to name a few. As someone once said about him, “Jack of all trades and master of many.”
He served as a fire fighter and paramedic for Spring Bay Fire Protection District in Spring Bay, IL, Forman Fire Protection District in Manito, IL and Schaeferville Fire Protection District in Pekin, IL retiring in 2014 as the district’s fire chief (S1). He used his architectural knowledge and drew the building plans for what is currently the Spring Bay Fire Station. He served and belonged to numerous fire, rescue and emergency medical organizations. The final organization he involved himself with was Pink Heals. He was a founding member of the Pink Heals Peoria Chapter and was their secretary.
Aaron & Ranell met on July 4, 2007. They married on September 13, 2014 in Morton, IL in Ranell’s parents backyard surrounded by their immediate family and a beautiful cascading waterfall. The wedding was followed by an outdoor reception at the Mackinaw Winery. Ranell adorned the reception with two wind chimes. The yellow chime was a gift to Barbara from her husband, Joel and the second chime was a gift to Ranell from her husband, Aaron. She wanted Barbara’s chimes at the reception as is was like having her new in-laws present at their son’s wedding reception, but in reality they had passed some 25 years earlier. The day was sunny, breezy, chilling and wonderful. The breeze swayed the chime and music was made. While it was their very best day together in all 15 years, Aaron was extremely extremely sick having been just released from the hospital 3 days earlier after a 15 day hospital stay. To say Ranell was nervous thinking she might not have a groom attending her wedding with her, was an understatement. However, it only dampened Ranell’s mood slightly as she’d waited for THAT DAY for 45 years!!!
Aaron loved her with all his heart and being. Ranell has two favorite dates she had with Aaron. Her first favorite date was in fact their first date. They talked for hours upon hours like old friends and God began knitting their kindred spirits together that very day. On the other favorite date about three or so years later, Aaron used a crayon to draw on Tyroni’s Italian Resturant’s butcher paper that laid atop a white cotton tablecloth. On the paper, he drew the house of their dreams practically to scale as they waited for their food to come. That house plan is one of her most cherished possessions. Ranell’s totally okay that it never came to fruition because God’s dream house is far far better than anything Aaron could have drawn or imagined.
Ranell publicly apologizes for Aaron’s “daily uniform” that he subjected the world to for years on end. He’d wear a navy & yellow Schaeferville tshirt and baggy, ratty jeans on the daily! Years later, he finally blessed the world with a “new look” of plain gray pocketed tshirts and different baggy, ratty jeans. It was like a very very bad Ground Hog’s Day movie played over and over again. Ranell insists she really did wash them up after every use, but when Aa mass-ordered himself 12 identical tshirts she’s very sure the world didn’t believe her! It was an uphill battle! She simply gave up and let the big ole boy dress himself how he wanted to!! He often told her that he was just “a simple country boy” so she just waved the white flag and let the country boy’s wardrobe speak for itself. To know him, was to truly love him.
Ranell was most attracted to Aaron’s big, broad shoulders and back that she loving referred to as “a whole lotta real estate”. However, she also knows those shoulders of his carried an awful lot over the years. Aaron exercised extreme patience, forgiveness and compassion in all areas and years of his life. This is why Ranell believes he died with zero winkles. However, she herself gained a few over their 15 year relationship, but she’s not quite pinpointed where they may have come from yet. Aaron’s love for others won Ranell’s heart over from day one because he did as much for strangers as he did for those he loved. His heart was the size of Alaska which was the dream vacation he never took.
Seeing caller’s ids come up on his ringing cellphone, Aaron picked up the phone and addressed EVERYone who rang him with, “Hey Buddy”, even the representatives on the other end of the phone line in foreign countries that probably didn’t even know who or what a buddy was. Aaron’s very best buddy is still here on earth. Charlee, Aaron’s 11 year old yellow Labrador Retriever, is in mourning. His favorite petter and treat-giver is gone. The night of his owner’s death he literally put his head on the corner of his Mommy’s pillow as they both fell sound asleep listening to christian music. Since that night he’s kept his distance from her as he hears and watches her cry on and off throughout the days since his Dad passed. He doesn’t know how to comfort her as he’s in mourning too. But they needn’t worry anymore, because joy will always come in the morning.
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Waller-Joos-Stetzler
1971 - 2022 (51 years)
