Henry R. Schneck Jr.

Henry R. Schneck, Jr., of Allentown passed away May 14, 2024 at home, surrounded by his loving family. Henry (age 82) was born in Allentown, the son of the late Henry R. and Helen M. (Remsing) Schneck and grew up in the neighborhood of the 6th Ward. He graduated from Allentown High School, Class of 1959, and received his Bachelor of Science with honors and Master of Science both in Civil/Structural Engineering from Lehigh University. He was inducted into Chi Epsilon, the national honorary civil engineering fraternity, and Lehigh’s Fritz Engineering Research Society. As a registered Profession (Structural) Engineer and Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Henry had an accomplished career. He was a Senior Project Engineer in both the nuclear plant and the fossil/hydroelectric plant engineering departments of the Pennsylvania Power & Light Company, retiring after 24 years of service. Among numerous power plant projects, he was primarily responsible for the design review of the nuclear reactor vessel containment structure at Susquehanna nuclear power plant and the engineering for the installation of post-tensioned tendons to reinforce and stabilize the Lake Wallenpaupack dam at the hydroelectric power plant. Prior to his work at PP&L, he was a Senior Bridge Designer for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and designed industrial structure facilities for Rust Engineering Company, Pittsburgh, and Congoleum Industries, Trenton, NJ. Although a dedicated professional, Henry felt his family took precedence in his life. He was married for 60 years to his beloved wife, Alma Marie (Sechler) whom he met in high school. He is survived by his daughters Lisa Schael of Macungie, PA, Karen Schneck (husband Coby Johnson) of Lower Merion Township, PA and son David (wife Risa) of Skippack Township, PA. He is grandfather (“Opa”) to five grandchildren, Courtney (husband Arkadiusz) Ważny, Alexander Schael, Roland and Oliver Johnson, and Emma Schneck, and a great-grandfather to Łukasz Ważny. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his only sibling Kathleen C. (Schneck) Moyer, whose daughter Wendy C. Moyer-Drabick resides in Barto, PA. An avid genealogist, historian, and advocate of Pennsylvania German culture preservation, he was a member of the Lehigh County Historical Society, Berks County Genealogical Society, Pennsylvania German Society, and Palatines to America. An active member of the Schneck Family Reunion Association of Schnecksville, he served as its Historian for 32 years. He co-authored “Im Schneckengang (‘At A Snail’s Pace’), A Genealogy and History of Several Schneck Families in America (1741-1985),” published in 1985, and compiled extensive genealogical and historical research on his and his wife’s families for their descendants. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 11 A.M. in the J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home 16th and Hamilton Sts. Allentown. A calling hour will be held on Wednesday from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. in the funeral home. For those who wish to honor Henry with a memorial contribution, his family suggests a donation to the American Cancer Society.