Paul David Schnichels, age 68, a resident of Topeka, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at the Midland Care Hospice in Topeka. He was born June 21, 1951, in Cautemoc, Mexico. He and his three siblings were adopted by Elfie M. Schnichels, a Baptist missionary. Growing up, Paul attended a country school and went to Junior High in Ft. Scott. He enjoyed playing baseball, basketball and swimming. Paul was naturalized at the federal building in Ft. Scott, Kansas on May 3, 1963.
Paul enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1969. He served aboard the destroyer USS Henderson. He served in a hostile fire zone in the South China Sea, the Tonkin Gulf and patrolled the coast of North Vietnam. Paul served under the Johnson and Nixon administrations. He earned four medals and a letter of commendation. Paul was honorably discharged in 1975. Paul attended Ft. Scott Community College from 1973-1974. He had several jobs including being a farm hand for four years. He was a station attendant at the Derby Station in Ft. Scott. He also made aluminum frames for Extrusions and Peerless.
Paul was active at the VA where he enjoyed volleyball, handball, lifting weights, ping pong, cards and chess. He also enjoyed cars, listening to music and had a lot of girlfriends. Paul was an avid reader and enjoyed reading about history, English, God and the Bible. Paul struggled with mental health issues and was in treatment for mental illness for forty-five years. After struggling with alcoholism, Paul stopped drinking in 1986. Paul had a strong faith as a Baptist Christian for Christ. He was converted in a jailhouse in August of 1971 and was baptized in 2000 at Emanuel Baptist Church in Ft. Scott. Paul had a godly mother and loved the Lord. He will be glad when he sees the Lord face to face.
Survivors include his mother, Elfie Schnichels, of Ft. Scott, Kansas and two sisters, Rose Brown and Linda Wurtz. He was preceded in death by a brother, Mark Schnichels.
Pastor Larry Stevicks will conduct a private funeral service on Wednesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Private burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Emanuel Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
