Father Joseph Mark Schneider

Father Joseph Schneider, 78, formerly of Cedar Falls, passed away at his home in Brownsville, Minnesota. He was born in Dubuque and grew up in Cedar Falls, son of John and Elsie (Dvorak) Schneider. Father Joe attended St. Patrick Catholic School, then Columbus High School in Waterloo, graduating in 1966. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Loras College in 1970, then studied theology at St. Paul Seminary graduating in 1974. Father Joe was ordained on May 25, 1974, at his home congregation of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cedar Falls. He began his ministry as an Associate at St. Patrick’s in Cedar Rapids and on the faculty of LaSalle High School. In 1979, Father Joe was appointed Associate Pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church & Aquin School of Religion both in Cascade and as administrator of Immaculate Conception of Sand Springs. His next calls to serve were as an Associate at Assumption Parish, Cresco and on faculty at Notre Dame High School (1982-1985), St. Mary’s of Manchester (1985-1988), and St. Paul School of Religion, Manchester (1985-1991). He accepted pastorates at St. Joseph Parish, Greeley in 1988; and to St. Patrick’s, Cedar Rapids, in 1991. He served as pastor of Visitation, Stacville; St. Ansgar’s in St. Ansgar; Sacred Heart, Meyer (1996-2002); St. Mary’s Dorchester; St. Mary’s, Hanover; and St. Patrick’s, Waukon (2002-2013). His final call was serving Blessed Trinity Cluster of Manchester, Masonville and Ryan and as pastoral coordinator of St. Paul School of Religion in Manchester. Father Schneider retired in July 2018 and celebrated his Jubilee Anniversary of Ordination at various locations in 2024.

Father Schneider was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Charles (Jeri) Schneider. He is survived by his brother, Scott (Donna) Schneider of Dubuque; nieces and nephews: Jessica (Justin) Steines, Aaron Schneider, Susan (Nick) Jensen, Steven Schneider and James Schneider; and many cherished colleagues and friends.

Father Schneider’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be the evening prior from 4-6:00 pm with a Prayer Service at 5:30 pm both at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home then, resuming, for an hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Catholic Foundation for the Archdiocese of Dubuque (CFAD) or to the St. Patrick, Waukon (#10216) Trust.

Father Joe’s ministries were vast and varied, but he had a deep and special commitment to Engagement Encounter and Marriage Encounter. From birdwatching to bike riding to speaking at marriage encounters, Father Schneider stayed busy in retirement. His home sits atop a bluff that overlooks the river, and he frequently hosted visitors on “Father Joe’s patio.” He had a bird’s eye view of the millions of flying species that make their way south, and then back up north, each year. Father Joe participated in over 40 RAGBRAIs through the years.