Obituary of Joe Schnell

JOSEPH “JOE” LOREN SCHNELL Joseph “Joe” Loren Schnell 88, Sturgeon, MO, passed away Friday, September 24, 2021, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, MO. He was born September 5, 1933, in Hooker, OK, the son of the late Joseph Henry Schnell and late Florine (Mitchell) Schnell. He was born in the midst of the Great Depression and at the approximate age of 4 he and his parents along with his two siblings, Gladys and Alex, traveled to California to escape the Dust Bowl Days of Oklahoma. They journeyed those many miles in a Model A Ford that sits in Joe’s garage today. Joe graduated high school from Enterprise Academy, Kansas, in 1951, and then received his bachelor’s degree in education from Madison College, Tennessee, in 1956. Joe was drafted into the United States Army in 1956, and stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. On a short leave he returned to Tennessee to marry his darling sweetheart, Barbara Jean (Busch) Schnell. They were married on March 10, 1957. They then returned back to Fort Sam Houston for the remainder of his boot camp training. After bootcamp training, he was transferred to Walter Reed Hospital, where he served his country as a medic in the eye clinic. He even had the privilege of performing an eye exam for our country’s 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhour. After the military, Joe worked as a teacher and throughout his career he taught in Tennessee, Virginia, Michigan, Kansas and Missouri. While in Michigan he went on to get his master’s degree from Andrew’s University in 1964. He continued to teach for a total of thirty years, with ten of those years serving as principal and teacher. He had a talent for working with children and he formed many special bonds throughout the years. He loved to teach, and even after retirement enjoyed playing “school” with his grandchildren. Joe and Barbara had the gift of hospitality. Together, they warmly welcomed visitors into their home for fellowship, wonderful food, smiles and of course a game of dominoes. Joe also had a wonderful way to organize and plan. Every Christmas was prepared with a special family gathering on Christmas Eve where family members would share Christmas musical pieces, readings, and a gift exchange in celebration of our Lord’s birth. There were also many bonfires, hay rack rides, and other special gatherings that he organized throughout the years. He was a member of the Sunnydale Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and enjoyed gardening, farming, and spending time with his family, especially all of his grandchildren and His Lord. In addition to his wife Barbara of 64 years, he will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his 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; sister Gladys Wagner of Tulsa, OK; brother Jerry Schnell and his wife Nelwyn of Keene, TX; thirteen grandchildren; five great grandchildren; other relatives and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Alex Schnell, and his sister Opal Hagelgantz. Funeral services will be 1:00 pm Friday, October 1, 2021, at the Sunnydale Seventh-Day Adventist Church near Centralia, MO. Interment will be at Mt. Horeb Cemetery in Sturgeon, MO. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at the Sunnydale Seventh-Day Adventist Church. In lieu of flowers 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. Joe is sleeping in Jesus until that day.