Earl Gene Schneider

Earl Gene Schneider, 85, formerly of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away peacefully at this wife's side at the Schuyler County Nursing Home in Queen City, Missouri, on Saturday, October 17, 2026.  He was born on December 9, 1940, to Annabel (Lee) Schneider and Andrew Earl Schneider.

Gene had several bout of illness over the past few years, and he had spent most of the past week in the Hospital in Columbia.  But, in his last lucid moments, he said his only priority was to get "home to Ginny," and that's exactly where he ended up, spending his final days with the woman he loved, around family, happy and free of pain.

He loved intensely and passionately.  That love took many forms, chiefly for the Love of his life, his wife, Virginia "Ginny" (Colton) Schneider.  Their love affair lasted more than six decades, and he considered it the defining achievement in his life.  He deeply loved his family, his grandchildren and extended family, and, more recently, his great-grandchildren. 

His passions went several different directions: delicious food; the First United Methodist Church, where he was a long-time Adult Sunday School Teacher and devoted scholar of the Bible (most Saturday nights saw him at the kitchen table preparing that week's lesson); or his beloved football teams (first, Jim Hart's St. Louis Cardinals produced unequal amounts of heartaches and broken light fixtures for overexuberant cheers; later, the Chiefs produced an equal amount of excitement and misery before recent dynasties produced multiple Super Bowl trophies; and it's fitting that Gene passed away while watching his Mizzou Tigers).

He was a fixture on the Truman State campus for 32 years. As Physical Plant Director, he was proud of the beautiful grounds his crew created and maintained and of his presence in the administration through seven University presidents.  And because of his signature Moped, everyone on campus knew Gene.  His first job with the Schneider Brothers Construction Company taught Gene strong attention to detail, and he loved the campus like it was his extended backyard. 

Gene's life had many phases.  He served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the city of Kirksville, was active in and past president of the Kirksville Rotary Club, and served on the Adair County Red Cross board.  He served as president of the United Way Board of Directors and is in the United Way Hall of Fame.  Gene was also a member of the Adair County Historical Society and created a popular presentation about the Civil War's Battle of Kirksville, He also served on the First United Methodist Church Board of Trustees. 

Early retirement let him and Ginny be more actively involved in their grandchildren's and family's lives, it also gave him time to pursue other passion, included a brief stint in politics as an Adair County Commissioner.  He was also a devoted employee of the Adair County Public Library. 

He was a Voracious reader up until his passing. Science Fiction and history were his favorites, and his bookshelf was littered with Asimov, Clarke and various religious scholars and historians.  He was also always a sucker for a good Louis Lamour western or the popular fiction and nonfiction of the day.  He was a devoted Star Trek fan and always had time for a classic rerun, another spinoff or reboot, or and intricate model of the USS Enterprise.  Gene also enjoyed bowling and pitching horseshoes, coaching softball and was an enthusiastic Kirksville Tiger fan.

Gene was the last of his immediate family.  He was preceded in death by his parents and tragically lost both of his brothers, Bobby and Gary, to cancer.  His brother-in-law, Frank Colton, also preceded him in death.  He had known great loss, so he loved as intensely as he lived, because he knew time wasn't infinite. 

But more importantly, Gene loved to laugh. He always had a joke or two ready to go as as church usher or when he saw someone on the street. He lived his life with joy and with a smile on his face, right up until the end.  He also called everyone "Shorty"!

He was extremely intelligent, but that intelligence didn't have to show up on in IQ score or as the smartest person in a room; it most often showed up as emotion and empathy,  if you were part of Gene's life, he loved you completely and without judgement. 

Gene is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ginny; his children, Julie (John) Henderson and Tracy (Mike) Ockenfels of Kirksville; and Rob (Jenn) Schneider of Frisco, Texas.  Also surviving are five grandchildren: Andrew (Lorrin) Mikolajczak, Aaron (Kelsey) Ockenfels, Alex Ockenfels, Becca Schneider and Ben Schneider.   Gene also had three great-grandchildren: Jackson, Reed, and Cora, with another one on the way! Gene is also survived by his sister-in-law, Pennie Schneider and Linda Colton; nephews Heath (Brandy) Schneider and Matthew (John) Colton; and nieces Carrie (Brian) Potts, Cathy (Dave) Allie, and Caryn (Harry) Brewer, along with many great-nieces and great-nephews.  

A Celebration of Life for Gene is planned for Saturday, November 7th at the United Methodist Church in Kirksville, Missouri at 1:30 pm until 3:00 pm.  Funeral serviced to commence afterward starting at 3:00pm.  

Memorials may made to the First United Methodist Church and/or the Adair County Public Library.