here’
Beloved coach, father honored for sports and community
Mary Nordhues grew up in the shadow of five older siblings.
She followed them along to all of their sporting events before joining in on the fun herself. The home she grew up in was full of friendly competition. She was - and is afterall, a Schnitzler at heart. Sports wasn’t just something her family did; it was a part of their world.
“I had the fortunate position of being the youngest of six,” Mary said. “I really got to witness my dad working with my older brothers and sisters.” Mary had siblings cheering her on and supporting her when she was old enough to join the crew in track, basketball, and other sports teams.
But most of all, there was ‘Coach’. Taking her to track meets as a grade schooler, driving his truck alongside her runs to pace her, shooting around at the gym with her and the other siblings, and letting her tag along to high school games he was coaching. Mary grew up watching sports, whether other high schoolers or her siblings, and was unaware of how easily sports was weaved into her DNA and a big part of who she is today.
“He was always there when we needed him,” Mary said.
Bob Schnitzler was known to the community and most of his athletes as Coach. To Mary and her siblings, he was Coach…and dad.
Robb Schnitzler, one of Mary’s older brothers and Bob’s son, remembers what it was like growing up in the Schnitzler household, too. Summers were filled with family vacations, hunting, fishing, camping and baseball. The school years were filled with long hours at practice and late nights at games. And in between the busyness of life, there was time set aside to spend intentional time together as a family. As they grew up, the kids expected to be more involved in sports.
“The fortunate thing is I had a great coach and a great dad to lead the way,” Robb said. The Schitzler kids were raised knowing they were to respect their elders, coaches, and other leaders. There was never a significant barrier having his dad as his coach in high school because of this. When he was in sports, Robb was focused on practicing and improving what he needed to work on.
“We went out and worked on things ourselves because we knew that, in order to be better, it was more than just going to practice,” Robb said. “You had to spend some time whether it’s shooting or doing what you needed to be successful.”
The kids’ spent hours watching Bob in his element. It was no wonder sports, in
The Battle Creek alumni grows closer to the celebration of the past athletes and coach Bob Schnitzler’s accomplishments. His wife, Lorraine was also inducted into the Battle Creek Public Schools hall of fame for her support for the school’s sporting programs. (Clockwise) Bob Schnitzler is raised on the shoulders of his team after a major victory in the season. Bob Schnitzler brings down a catch as he plays for the Cornhuskers in an October 12 game in 1985. COURTESY PHOTOS
