Joan Ellen Schneider

Joan Ellen (Joelle) Kramer Schneider, 59, passed peacefully on October 24, 2021, in South Asia. Her final days were spent surrounded by family members and friends who cared for her, sang to her, read scripture to her and loved her during her brief illness with cancer.

Joelle was born and raised in Ohio and attended Buckeye Valley High School in Delaware, Ohio. It was during her teenage years that Joelle developed a lifelong interest in running. During the 1970's, there was no girls' cross-country team at her high school, but this did not deter her and she simply decided to join the boys' team. Joelle's skill as a runner improved quickly as did several runners on her team as no boy wanted to lose to a girl!

Joelle graduated from St. Louis University in 1983 and became a gifted physical therapist, spending many hours in the pool helping disabled children. While practicing physical therapy for a number of different facilities in Louisville, Kentucky, she saw a need for a rehabilitation exercise manual. While still in her 20's, she co-authored two exercise manuals that allowed physical therapists to provide detailed explanations and illustrations of various exercises to their patients as they continued their therapy at home. These manuals are still in use today.

Joelle was a Christ follower and lived out her faith by loving people right where they were. Once her three children were grown, she volunteered her time to help South Asian people in Louisville. This decision led her to work as a physical therapist in the mountains of South Asia helping the most vulnerable of that population, the sick and disabled. She touched many lives there and, although we may never know the full extent of her impact, we know that she made many sacrifices to ease the suffering of others. She was the embodiment of a person who will hear those eternal words, "Well done my good and faithful servant." Above all else, Joelle loved to share with the people she encountered the Good News of Jesus Christ and of faith, redemption, forgiveness and of the eternal life she is now enjoying. Joelle is preceded in death by her father, Thomas Kramer.

Joelle is survived by her mother, Joan Marie Kramer, her three beloved children Jean (Josh) Raper, Marcus and Elizabeth Schneider, grandsons Hudson, Lincoln and Ford Raper, siblings Greg (Eileen) Kramer, Chris (Suzanne) Kramer, David (Laura) Kramer, Gerry (Colleen) Kramer and Laurel (Jeff) Sherwood as well as dozens of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Chapel in the Woods 1407 Moser Rd, Louisville, KY 40299 on Saturday, November 6th, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Funeral services will be at 11am there, with burial following at Cave Hill Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to Southeast Christian Church, 920 Blankenbaker Parkway, Louisville, KY, 40243.

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