[1] He attended the University of Wisconsin on a basketball scholarship, but upon arriving on campus was recruited to play football.

He then played as a fullback and end, earning All-American Honorable Mention in his junior year.

Schneller graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in electrical engineering after his NFL playing career was completed.

He served as a lieutenant, commanding the radar tower, on the USS South Dakota in the Pacific.

In 1947, he founded the Duracote Company in Ravenna, Ohio, and in 1964 founded John Schneller & Associates, in Kent, Ohio, which later became known as Schneller, Inc. Today, the company is the largest supplier of commercial aircraft interior decorative laminates in the world.