Howard W. Schneider

Howard Wayne Schneider, age 83 of Arlington, died Friday, December 17, 2021 at the Good Samaritan Society in Arlington.  Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 23 at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Arlington.  Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 22 at the Kolden Funeral Home in Arlington, and also one hour prior to the service on Thursday.  Interment will be in the church cemetery. Memorials to St. John’s Lutheran church are preferred instead of flowers.

Howard was born in Mankato on August 16, 1938 to Harry & Helen Schneider.  He graduated from Arlington High School in 1956, thereafter, he worked at home and hauled milk for Wilford Hahn. Howard even tended bar at Stu’s Rainbow Café where he met his sweetheart Helen Carol Frey. They married on July 15, 1967 at Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Peter, MN. Together Howard and Helen raised three sons: Wayne, Wade and Warren. Howard was no stranger to work and providing for his family.  For 50 years he worked tirelessly as a dairy farmer and for 50 years was a well-known, skilled butcher until age 70.  He also drove school bus for 20 years.    Grass didn’t grow under Howard’s feet during retirement.  Remaining active was a must, him and his brother Roger would run parts for his son Wade while always finding time to stop for lunch, typically at a meat market or at a friend’s house that they just “happened to stumble upon.”  Howard continued to help his son Wayne as much as he could with farming until it became physically impossible the past couple of years.  Howard’s passion was his horses – he had both a horse and a buggy, and a team of Belgian Draft Horses. He was an avid community volunteer and supporter, which consisted of sitting on the Sibley County Fair Board and St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery Board for many years.  Howard is one of the few trained in the art of ringing the bells in the belltower at St. Johns.  He loved to volunteer his time with his son Warren, giving rides with his team of draft horses.  He donated and volunteered his time at events, such as: Sibley County Medical Center fundraisers, the Sibley County Fair, Pioneer Power, Bernadotte’s Swede Fest, Arli-Dazzle, parades, weddings, anniversaries, and funerals.   He had a very special fondness and friendship with the Amish Community.  Much of his time was spent in Waverly, Iowa attending auctions and delivering black walnuts that he spent countless hours cracking during the cold winter months to pass time.  Howard loved the traditions of days gone by.  He very much enjoyed organizing old time horse plowing demonstrations/events for the public to watch.  Howard simply enjoyed having any opportunity to visit with people.  He looked forward to coffee at the Nicollet Café with his friend Larry Pfarr and others.  Twice a year he announced the butter sale prices at AMPI and made the trip to New Ulm, filling every square inch of his minivan with cases and cases of butter and many pounds of cheese to share with all who might need a hefty six-month supply. He took pride in ensuring everyone was well stocked until the next great deal.  Howard was very proud of his wife Helen’s baking.  Every chance he could, he would pull from his pocket and share a copy of some delicious new recipe she had made, always beaming with pride.  Howard will be greatly missed but is now free of pain and suffering.  He told his sister Eunice the Lord had a nest ready for him but knowing Howard he will rest shortly and then be busy tending to all the beautiful draft horses gone before him in the greenest of pastures of heaven.  Surviving Howard is his wife Helen, his children Wayne (special friend Cindy Ferrel) of Arlington, son Wade (Kim) of Arlington, Warren (Stacy) of Winthrop,  sister Eunice Lueck, and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents Harry & Helen Schneider and his brother Roger Schneider.