Melford Schneider

Melford Wayne Schneider, age 82 of Albert Lea, Minnesota, formerly of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, died on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Health System Austin. Mel was born June 25, 1937, to Arthur and Martha (Flugum) Schneider. He grew up on their farm in Waltham, Minnesota. He attended rural country school and Austin High School. Mel married Esther Mae Barber on May 9, 1954. They raised their family of six children in the Blooming Prairie area. Mel and Esther farmed until they moved to Blooming Prairie in 1963. They were later divorced. Shortly after moving to Blooming Prairie, he started Mel Schneider Trucking business. His greatest love and joy were his family. To Mel his grandchildren felt like they were “his buddies.” He loved fishing and animals and had many pets through out the years. Mel loved music, and attending dances where he met Darlene Zimmerman of Waseca, Minnesota. They married on August 4, 2007. They made their home in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Together they ran Mel’s Golf Cars of Albert Lea, until retirement in 2018. Mel was a member of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Loyal Order of Moose, and Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Survivors include his wife, Darlene Schneider of Albert Lea, MN; children, Cathy Boever of Blooming Prairie, Terry (Barb) Schneider of Blooming Prairie, Cheryl (Larry) Shoden of Rochester, Brenda (Scott) Thompson of Austin, Rhonda (Dennis) Underdahl, also of Austin; Darlene’s children, Gail Zimmerman of Waseca, Carol (Chip) Crosby of Janesville, Cindy (Mark) Buker of Rosemont, Paul Zimmerman of Waseca; 13 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; Darlene’s 5 grandchildren; brothers, Vern Schneider of Austin, Art (Tammy) Schneider of Waltham; sisters, Eldora Barber of Dodge Center, Marion Schneider of Waltham, Maxine (Keith) Bruemmer of Elgin; brother-in-law, Clem Howe of Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Martha Schneider; infant son, Randall Schneider; daughter, Karen Schneider; grandson, Jason Schneider; son-in-law, Tim Boever; sister-in-law, June Schneider; and brothers-in-law, Dale Howe and Lloyd Barber.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in rural Waltham, Minnesota, 30450 570th Ave, Waltham, MN 55982. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 21, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in St. Michael’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Waltham, Minnesota. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements.