Hans P. Schoenfeld, 58

Montgomery High School Class of 1983

(October 16, 1964–August 10, 2023)

Hans P. Schoenfeld of Long Valley, NJ died Thursday, August 10, 2023. He was 58 years old.

Hans was born on October 16, 1964, to Paul H and Eleanor AR (Moller) Schoenfeld in Princeton. Hans spent his formative years immersed in nature at the family home built by his father along Rock Brook within the Sourland Mountains in Skillman.

Hans attended Montgomery Township Schools, graduating in the class of 1983, where he could be found running circles around his opponents as a member of the high school cross country and track teams.

Hans was active in the Boy Scouts, where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. His experiences with the scouting program, including the wilderness adventures he participated in at Moosehead Lake in Maine and the Fort AP Hill Jamboree in Virginia, instilled in him a love of camping, hiking, and boating, which he carried with him throughout his life and shared with his sons.

An appreciation and love of music was important to Hans from an early age and he became an accomplished clarinetist, playing in the high school concert and jazz bands, and in a Dixie Land Jazz band composed of local friends, “The Skillman Struttin’ Society.” This love of music led him to pursue a bachelor's degree in music education from Susquehanna University, which he completed in 1987.

Hans’ strong devotion to the Lord led him to a change in path, and after completing his master of divinity at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (1994), he became an ordained minister of the Lutheran Church.

In recent years, Hans served God as a hospice chaplain with Amedisys Hospice in Hackensack. Here, his melodic clarinet serenaded and brought peace to many of his patients. He found a great sense of belonging and community in the congregation of the Church of the Messiah in Chester, and he would delight in opportunities to occasionally deliver the Sunday service.

Hans cared very deeply for his sons Jonathan and Nathan, both of whom he viewed as his greatest accomplishments. He enjoyed sharing his love of nature with them while hiking the trails and kayaking the many lakes of northern New Jersey. Adventures were always ‘just around the corner’ for Hans, and his sons have fond memories of family vacations spent in Oregon, Alaska, Scotland, Hawaii, and many more. He had a great sense of humor and was able to connect to others with his infectious smile and outgoing personality. He made friends wherever he went.

Hiking and biking were interests he shared with his brother Mark. He enjoyed sharing home cooked meals with his sister Heidi at their family home in Skillman and in Chelsea, Vermont. His fun-loving and mischievous sense of humor endeared him to his nieces and nephews as well as his many cousins.

Hans is survived by his children Jonathan S Haspel-Schoenfeld and Nathan P Haspel-Schoenfeld (Mendham); his sister Heidi A. Schoenfeld (Lincoln Rounds) of Skillman; his brother Mark D. Schoenfeld (Beth) of Colorado Springs CO; nieces Hyla Rounds, Phoebe Rounds, and Ellie Schoenfeld; and nephew Landon Schoenfeld as well as many cousins. His also survived by his former wife and mother of his children Julia Haspel (Bill Santianna) of Mendham. Hans was predeceased by his parents Paul and Eleanor Schoenfeld.

There will be a celebration of life for Hans on Saturday, August 19, at 2:00PM, at the Church of the Messiah, 50 Rt. 513, Chester.

Memorial donations may be made to the New Jersey Trails Association (njtrails.org) or directly to the family, for the benefit of his children, c/o Jean Haspel (101 Sunrise Circle, Egg Harbor Township, 08234)

Arrangements entrusted to the William J. Leber Funeral Home, 15 Furnace Road, Chester.