Obituary of Barbara Schnell

Barbara “Barb” Jean (Busch) Schnell Barbara “Barb” Jean (Busch) Schnell 84, Sturgeon, MO, passed away on Sabbath, (Saturday) July 30, 2022, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, MO. She was born August 27, 1937 in Madison, TN, the daughter of the late Elmer Frederick Busch and late Clara Louise (Brooks) Busch. She was the eldest of four children; brothers Bill, Ronnie, and Danny Busch. Her growing up years were filled with school, friends, and extended family. She loved helping her parents with their huge garden, attending Sabbath School and Church, and Sabbath afternoon outings with her family. One vivid event that stood out in her memory when she was a child was that she and her brothers had gone with their Dad to the Cumberland River. Her Mother was a nurse and she was working that day. So, it was just her Dad and her brothers. Her Dad liked to fish and while he was fishing the children would play close by. She remembered being close to the edge of the river and then falling in, feet first. It was a very fast current and she knew she would be swept away. However, the next thing she knew she was turned around and hanging on to the edge of the bank, giving her Dad enough time to pull her out. She knew her guardian angel saved her from drowning that day. She attended the Seventh Day Adventist School in Madison throughout her elementary and highschool years. During her senior year she met her forever sweetheart, Joe, at a school social event. Soon after, they began dating. Their courtship continued and grew even after Joe was drafted into the Army. After highschool, Barb continued her education at Madison College. During a surprise visit from Joe, Thanksgiving 1956, he asked for her hand in marriage. That same day her Grandmother Brooks died and it was also Barb’s Dad’s birthday. Thus, November 25th continued to be a day that held a lot of emotions and memories for her. Joe and Barb were married March 10, 1957. After the wedding, they went to Fort Sam Houston, TX, where Joe was stationed. Soon after, he was transferred to Walter Reed Hospital, where he worked in the eye clinic. While there their first son, David, was born in September, 1958. After the military and a move to Virginia another son was born, Larry, January 1961 and a daughter, Cindi, December of that same year. Those were very busy days, but happy times with their precious little family. Several years later, while living in Overland Park, KS, two additional children joined the family, Dennis in February, 1969 and Jolene September, 1971. Mom was a homemaker, she worked with special needs children as a teacher’s aide, she helped Dad throughout his career, and she even helped milked cows for 10 years! The inspector knew when Mom was there because of how CLEAN the milking parlor was! Mom was always a wonderful support to Dad, whether he was teaching school, farming, or working on a project. She was right there to help in any way she could with the MANY varied “projects”. As Dad’s health began to weaken, she was determined to take care of him for as long as she could. Even after his major stroke, she faithfully took care of him so that they could remain together in their home until his death on September 24, 2021. They were married 64 years. She loved her family dearly and tirelessly worked to make things special for each of us. She had the gift of baking and shared hundreds of baked goods with so many. She was genuinely happy to see everyone and was very interested in whatever you had going on. She kept a positive and cheerful attitude and tried to see the good in things despite the trials. She loved the LORD, and kept each of us in prayer asking God for His guidance and protection. She loved her family dearly and was a wonderful Mother and Grandmother. The day before she died, she was preparing for Sabbath. She had baked bread, had driven to get her hair done, talked with several on the phone, and was looking forward to going to church the next day. She was a member of the Sunnydale Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and enjoyed flowers, birds, gardening, baking, her family, spending time with others and worshiping her Lord and Savior. Barb will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her children David Schnell and his wife Debbie of Bozeman, MT, Larry Schnell and his wife Linda of Centralia, MO, Cindi Kelly and her husband Jeff of Moberly, MO, Dennis Schnell and his wife Becki of Sturgeon, MO, and Jolene Johnston and her husband Tom of Madison, MO; brother Ronnie Busch of Nashville, TN; thirteen grandchildren; five great grandchildren; other relatives and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her brothers Bill and Danny Busch. Funeral services will be Friday, August 5, 2022, at the Sunnydale Seventh-Day Adventist Church near Centralia, MO. Interment will be at Mt. Horeb Cemetery in Sturgeon, MO. Visitation will be from 5-8 pm on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at the Sunnydale Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Adventist World Radio, c/o Oliver Funeral Home, P.O. Box 125, Centralia, MO, 65240. Condolences may also be made to the family at www.oliverfuneralhome.net We give tribute to our Lord and Savior who has given us the blessed hope of the resurrection. Barb is sleeping in Jesus until that glorious day.