Celebration of Life: Oscar Schnaidt, July 24, 1930 – May 18, 2024

Provided.

Oscar Schnaidt.

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Oscar Schnaidt of Tehachapi and Taft, California, who left us on May 18 at the age of 93.

Oscar was born in Zap, North Dakota on July 24, 1930, to Jacob and Doris Schnaidt. Oscar was a Korean War Veteran, serving as an airborne ranger in the Army 187th Airborne RTC. He was also a member of the Army Camp Wood exhibition basketball team in Japan. He was a well-known athlete at Beulah High School in North Dakota where he excelled in football, basketball and track. He attended college at Jamestown College, Dickinson Teaching College and Oregon State University earning a Master of Science in Mathematics Education.

Oscar and his family moved to Taft in 1964 where they lived for 57 years. He taught mathematics at Taft Union High School and Taft College where his students have expressed the great influence he had on their lives. He and wife Sharon moved to Tehachapi in 2021 to downsize and be closer to their daughter.

Oscar was always known as a humble man, admired for his humor, wisdom and achievements. He was passionate about family, teaching, his students, golf, travel, road trips, Huell Howser, sports, weather and just plain ol' talking to people.

He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Sharon, daughter Dixie Vaughan (Tommy), son Mark Schnaidt (Cynthia), son Dean Schnaidt (Shannon), brother Jay Schnaidt (Ginny), sister Rosie Bride, brother Larry Schnaidt, sister Claudia Fehlman, sister Sandy Neely (Harold), nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Oscar was preceded in death by his son Michael Schnaidt, brother Murland Schnaidt, sister Bobbie Nelson and sister Dianne Peterson.

A Celebration of Life was held at Philip Marx Central Park in Tehachapi on July 20. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that people make donations to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Foundation.