Joseph Allan Schneider
San Francisco
March 7, 1955-July 3, 2025
Joseph Allan Schneider, 70, a pillar of the community and pioneer in arboriculture, died with his children, Jake and Linden, and girlfriend of 20 years, Loreen, by his side in San Francisco, California.
Born March 7, 1955 in St. Cloud, Minn., Schneider came to California in his early 20s to pursue a career in modern dance after completing his training from the College of St. Benedict, in his hometown of St. Joseph, Minn. He ended up in Calistoga, Calif., working with his best childhood friend Alex Dierkhising where he met the mother of his two children, Mary Jo Geitner, and started a family. He began his journey with trees in 1977 with John Britton Tree Service in St. Helena, Calif. Together with friend and fellow arborist Rick Patrick, he established Pacific Tree Care in 1983, based in Calistoga, where he remained president with his son Jacob [Jake] Schneider until his passing.
Under his leadership, Pacific Tree Care grew into a respected firm serving the North Bay, rooted in a biological approach to tree care, recognizing trees as living beings to be cared for. Schneider was renowned for his expert knowledge, passion for education and high standards in arboriculture – so much so that he helped establish and support the Calistoga Tree Coalition, regularly taught and engaged in the scientific arboricultural community through regional, national and international industry groups.
Schneider was a devoted father of three, sharing his respect for and admiration for nature through his vast knowledge, unique abilities as a teacher and never-ending curiosity. Known for his kindness and compassion his legacy lives on through his children, extended family and a network of friends, colleagues and clients who admired him as a mentor and friend. His loving and kind nature, extended without reservation to anyone he encountered, is deeply missed by the communities he was a part of. Go out and Touch Trees for Joe, Joey, Joseph. We miss you buddy, peace in your heart.
Survivors include the following: his three children: Jacob Schneider of Hidden Valley Lake [Annie Schneider, Giana Tyrrell], Linden Schneider of Kaneohe, Hawai’i [Andrew Rominger, Felix Rominger] and Josette Schneider of Rumson, N.J.; his sister Rosann Mijolhus [Kris Mjolhus, Katie Klug and Eric Mjolhus] of St. Cloud, Minn.; his partner of 20 years Loreen Andrews [Ariel Andrews, Rodrigo Montiel, Kai Montiel, Emerson Montiel]; countless nieces and nephews; and countless trees and their communities he cared for.
In honor of his legacy, donations can be directed to The Britton Fund – an organization that embodies Schneider’s lifelong dedication to holistic tree stewardship through its mission to create and enable knowledge by raising financial support for research and education to promote excellence and advancement in the field of arboriculture for the public good. Together, we care for trees. https://www.thebrittonfund.org/
