Gerd K. Schneider of Gilroy passed away December 12th 2015 at the age of 85. He was born in Germany in the State of Saarland. He was preceded in death by his parents Oskar and Berta, and his two brothers Kurt and Horst, all of Germany. He leaves behind two very dear friends from Germany, Hannelore and Helmut and many other dear friends from all over California including the 15 workers that he employed. Gerd worked in the field of Horticulture as a plant propagator for over 60 years, and this is where he met and kept lifelong friends, too numerous to mention. When his business was located in the Watsonville area, he attended, for many years, the Lutheran Church in Aptos.

He studied and worked in Germany, Denmark and Switzerland, and then came to the United States to work for the Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation in 1957, which then lead him to work for a nursery in the Monterey bay area and eventually he opened his own business grafting and propagating shrubs and trees. He loved his job and worked until the very day of his passing.

The highlight of his day was to do his shopping at the Gilroy Nob Hill store, where the clerks and managers knew him by name. When he became ill at times and could not make it to the store, he would ask that they be notified that he was ok, but wouldn't be in for a few days.

Gerd was a simple man that brought smiles and happiness to many. He did not wish for frivolous, materialistic things, only to be happy. He loved to read and most of all, he loved to talk! Gerd will be terribly missed by all that knew him. Auf wiedersehen Gerd, Wir lieben dich!

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2016, 11:00 A.M. at South Valley Community Church in Gilroy.