Gerald A. Schneider
Funeral services held Monday in Gunder
Gerald A. Schneider, 84, of Postville died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, at Palmer Lutheran Health Center in West Union.
Funeral services were held Monday, March 4, at Marion Lutheran Church in Gunder.
Interment was in the church cemetery.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Clermont handled the arrangements.
Gerald Alton Schneider, son of John and Selma (Baechler) Schneider, was born Feb. 24, 1929, on the Baechler family farm west of Elgin.
Gerald began his education at the Cherry Valley country school, rural Elgin, and finished at Elgin Public School.
On July 19, 1969, Gerald was united in marriage with Arlette Kapell Hackmann in Galena, Ill.
He started hauling can milk to the Gunder Cheese Factory when he was a young man. Due to changes in milk handling, Gerald and Arlette purchased their first semi-truck and trailer in 1969, which was the beginning of Schneider Motorways. Gerald and Arlette continued to build the business for the next 43 years. The couple also worked together in other entities, including farming, a truck and car wash, milk reload, a convenience store, and Heritage Farm Park.
Gerald retired from the business in 2006 because of his health; the business was sold in 2012.
He enjoyed life, as reflected by his passion for his wife, his family, his friends and his work. Gerald had many interests, including restoring old tractors and trucks, collecting toy tractors and old cars. He enjoyed watching the Iowa Hawkeye sports teams, especially football, traveling, fishing, and dining out.
Very active in the community, Gerald was involved in Heritage Farm Park in Clermont, was a founding member of Northeast Iowa Classic Tractors, and at one time he was a member of a convertible car club.
Preceding him in death were his parents, John Schneider and Selma Schneider-Kohls; and three grandchildren, Chad and Dustin Roberts, and Layne Schneider.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Arlette, of Clermont; 10 children, David (Jo) Schneider, Ed Schneider, Karen (Dave) Roberts, LuAnn (Jeff) Alber, Gary (Lisa) Schneider, Melinda (Brian) Schroeder, Geoff (Alayna) Schneider, Robyn (Chris) Strong, Traci (Tom) Bates, and Mike Hackmann; 25 grandchildren, Marcy (Larry) Hoffman, Darren (Marcy) Schneider, Kristen (John) Kelly, Annie (Sam) Sadler, Kim (Wes) Moore, Rick Schneider, Terra (Tony) Bracy, Katie (Vinnie) Roberts, Shannon Albers, Shawn (Sydney) Albers, Jessica (Craig) Moser, Jamie (Mike) Germann, Josh (Whitney) Schneider, Jason (Amanda) Schneider, Derek (Jennifer) Schroeder, Justin Schroeder, Chase Schneider, Zoë Schneider, Loren Strong, Michael Strong, Aaron Strong, Rachael Strong, Isabella Bates, Isaiah Bates, and Josi Baker; and 34 great-grandchildren.
Condolences may be left at www.graufuneralhomes.com.