River Otto Loos-Schneider

River Otto Loos-Schneider

“I knew someday you’d fly away. For love is the greatest healer to be found. So leave me if you

need to, I will still remember. Angel flying too close to the ground.” Willie Nelson

With heavy hearts we have sat here since February 12, 2022 trying to put into words

what the end of your journey here means to us. Something we have thought of many

times since you were born on March 12, 2018, being born with an omphalocele along

with other heart and stomach complications. But like your nickname River Otter

personifies; you always showed us your feisty bravery, adorable smiling face, gentle

inviting eyes, a willful desire to play, and you laid back in our arms as if floating down

the river simply enjoying the view of life. So those thoughts were pushed aside to give

us more love, hope, and strength along your journey with us. Never did we think that

evening, it would be then you would take your last breath.

Remembering back as new parents Jason Schneider and Jennifer Loos on the day we

were finally able to bring you home from the hospital, how incredibly uncertain and

nervous we were with all of your medical needs. How to comfort you and make you

happy and feel loved. We all came together to do just that. You taught us all so much

love, patience…. You showed your love by giving us hugs with pats on our back, with

your infectious smile and laugh-somehow always smiling through your pain, with your

love for music in all forms, and showing your joy by clapping your hands for the simplest

things the world had to offer, such as your beloved Peter Rabbit. As you grew you

learned to use sign language, to dance, to play music on the drums and piano in your

own special way, and to throw and kick a ball. With your beautiful golden red locks of

hair to act out your favorite wrestling character’s moves with big brother Daniel

Schlembach. The two of you grew to not only be brothers but the best of friends as

well. Those are the things we will treasure most. You will forever be missed by this big

family of yours. You were a special gift to all of us. A gift of love. The world will never

understand how special you are.

A special thank you to the caregivers who not only cared for River, but also loved him as

their own. To Sara, our primary homecare nurse who has been there from the

beginning. To Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee staff and all our specialists who have

handled his health challenges and supported us through everything. And to the

Manitowoc County B-3 program and waiver who have helped us with transitions for his

care.

Surviving and mourning you are: Parents Jason M Schneider and Jennifer M Loos and

brother Daniel A Schlembach. Paternal grandmother Sandra Schneider and maternal

grandmother Laura Ward. Uncles Shawn (Heather) Schneider, Adam Janco, Richard

Janco, Kevin Schneider, Jeff (Shannon) Janco, Chris Schneider, Peter Schneider,

Joshua Ward, and Aunt Kathleen Ward and multiple cousins.

We hope that you were met at the gates of Heaven by: Paternal grandfather Peter V.

Schneider, maternal grandfather Andy Ward and special uncle ‘Lil’ David and multiple

cousins.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 until 2:45 pm on Sunday, February 27th, at the Deja & Martin Funeral Chapels, 1506 18th St. in Two Rivers with a memorial service to conclude the afternoon at 3:00 pm.

Luncheon to follow at Port Sandy Bay.