Jan. 23, 1937 ~ July 22, 2024
Carl Clyde Schneller, 87, passed away peacefully July 22, 2024 in Holyoke, CO, at Melissa Memorial Hospital with his wife, Kathy, of 62 years, at his side after a long battle with MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome).
On Jan. 23, 1937, Carl was born to Leonard and Esther (Helzer) Schneller in Loran, LA. He grew up the oldest of five siblings in Sutton. Carl graduated in 1955 from Sutton High School. After graduation, he served in the National Guard in the Air Force division as a mechanic. Carl married the love of his life, Kathleen Reier in 1961, in Sumner. The couple started their lives in McCook, as Carl and his brother, Keith, leveled land and built dams. In the summer of 1964, they moved to Holyoke, CO. The brothers continued land leveling for irrigation establishing the Schneller Brothers Development Company. By 1969, the brothers were farming irrigated corn and sugar beets and in 1980 split the operation to independently farm. Even into Carl’s battle with MDS, he continued to help on the farm and develop land. He truly loved his work and felt immensely blessed to work with his family including grandchildren with harvest being a most satisfying season.
Carl was always the mechanic and engineer even without formal training and was known to innovate ways to accomplish the work he was passionate about. Carl truly embodied the American dream. He was an exemplary example of a Godly life well lived.
Carl was a devoted Christian and was very active in Zion Lutheran Church serving in many roles through the years. His other activities included more than a decade of successful tractor pulling across the United States, traveling to more than 85 countries including every continent with Kathy, flying his Cessna, and fishing with his family and friends. His most cherished memories involved family, trips and working together.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two of his brothers, infant Daniel and Keith.
Those left to cherish memories of Carl are his bride, Kathleen; children, Cynthia Koester, Jon Schneller, Michelle Van Overbeke and husband, Troy, Dustin Schneller and wife, Rena; his beloved grandchildren, Zak Koester, Olivia Koester, Regan Yost and husband, Matt, Haley Van Overbeke, Carter Van Overbeke, Rylee Schneller, Ethan Schneller and Rorey Schneller; and siblings Larry Schneller and Nancy Brumley.
Funeral services were at 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 30, at Zion Lutheran Church in Holyoke; burial followed at the Holyoke Cemetery.
