Cyril Schneider

Cyril F. Schneider, age 90, of Freeport and formerly of St. Joseph, died Sunday, August 22, 2010 at his home in Melrose.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11a.m. Thursday, August 26 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church in Freeport.

Cyril Frank Schneider was born January 30, 1920 in St. Joseph, Minnesota to Jacob and Agnes (Zerline) Schneider. In 1942 Cyril left for a four year commitment in the Army. During his tour of duty he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was stationed near France/Germany border near Hitler's Burchess Garden. He was a TA Sergeant and worked as a cable splicer in a communications unit. He married Olivia Riehm in 1946 and for the next couple of years helped out on the Schneider family farm on Kramer Lake in St. Joseph. Their only daughter, Carol, was born on July 27, 1947. In 1949 the family moved to Alaska where he was employed by the Federal Aviation Agency and spent the next 20 years working in remote locations across Alaska. Cyril enjoyed fishing at various lakes in Stearns County and at their lake home at Maple Lake. Olivia and Cyril enjoyed many trips to the local casinos.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport and the Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050.

Survivors include his daughter, Carol Schneider of Melrose; three grandchildren, Paul Cyril Sturgeon of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Deborah Carol Ansiel of Melrose, and Michael Walker Conner or Sartell; three great-grandchildren, Stacy Olivia Ansiel, Ashley Nichole Hogan, and Jimmy Ray Issac Ansiel; two great-great-grandchildren, McKenzie Rae Ansiel and Skylar Leo "Rocket" Ansiel; and brothers, Raymond Schneider of Hugo and Donald Schneider of St. Joseph.

Cyril was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Olivia B. Schneider on September 22, 2006.

Serving as casket bearers will be Paul Sturgeon, Michael Conner, Jimmy Ansiel, Stacy Ansiel, Joseph Sturgeon, and Frank Riehm. Cross bearer will be Ashley Hogan and scripture bearer will be Deborah Ansiel.