Celestine Schneider

Celestine “Red” Joseph Schneider, 77, passed away Monday, July 3, 2017 with his family at his side. God called Red to be with Him while he was living at Salmons Place Senior Care in Alexandria under the care of Douglas County Hospice and his wonderful caretakers at Salmons.

Red was born Feb. 8, 1940 in Melrose. He was the son of George and Mathilda Schneider. He was baptized on Feb. 13 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Meire Grove. His First Holy Communion took place on May 17, 1947 and his Confirmation took place on Sept. 28, 1952, both at St. John’s.

He attended country school in Meire Grove until the eighth grade, when he quit to help his dad on the farm. He stayed on the farm until he was 18 at which time he decided to move to Minneapolis.

While living there, he worked for a nursing home in the kitchen and then worked at Big Wheel Auto Parts for a number of years. He also became a certified watch repairman.

It was while living in Minneapolis that he met the love of his life, Leona, a divorced woman with five children. Their love quickly blossomed and after a short courtship, they were married by a justice of the peace in South Dakota on July 22, 1968 and Red became “Dad” to Donna, Alan, Steven, Karen and Michael.

Red and Leona had two more children, Charles and Celeste, and in 1979, they moved from Minneapolis to Willmar where Red went back to his roots and started farming. He was a turkey farmer for Willmar Poultry Company.

In 1982, Red was seriously injured in a tractor accident, but continued farming for a couple more years. Eventually, he quit farming and began work as a night watchman at a turkey hatchery. He was employed by Willmar Poultry for a total of 19 years. He retired early because of back issues and was put on disability.

While living in Willmar, Red was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Willmar and then St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kandiyohi.

On Oct. 18, 1982, Red and Leona were “remarried” in the Catholic church with his parents standing by their side as their attendants.

Red and his wife, Leona, had a love of children that ran deep, so deep that they became foster parents and were “dad and mom” to nearly 100 children throughout their 15 years of foster care service in Kandiyohi County. In 1993, Red and Leona were named the Minnesota Foster Parents of the Year.

A simple, quiet, loving, soft-hearted, gentle, unassuming man, Red loved to tinker and putz around the house and in his garage and basement workshops. He was a handyman who loved to build and fix everything from watches to cars. He taught most of his children how to change oil.

His love for his wife and his children was never-ending. They were his life and he would do anything for them.

Red’s favorite activities were tinkering, fishing, camping, watching John Wayne movies, listening to Johnny Cash songs and playing cards with family and friends.

Red was preceded in death by his wonderful wife, Leona, who passed away March 11, 2017; parents, George and Mathilda; siblings Loretta and Ervin; daughter, Donna; and many other family members.

He is survived by his children, Alan (Shirley) Sobtzak; Steven (Lori) Sobtzak; Karen (Elroy) Deschepper; Michael (Kim) Sobtzak; Charles (Ann) Schneider; and Celeste (Al) Edenloff; 26 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; siblings, Doris Herdering; Raymond (Carol) Schneider; Denis (Emily) Schneider; Alvin (Dorothy) Schneider; James (Carol) Schneider; and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, July 14, 2017 at 11 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alexandria with the Reverend Steve Binsfeld officiating. A Parish Prayer Service will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 4 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home with a visitation continuing until 7PM at the Anderson Funeral Home. A visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the Mass on Friday at the church.