Melford Wayne Schneider, 82, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, formerly of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, died on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, at Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin.

Mel was born June 25, 1937, to Arthur and Martha (Flugum) Schneider. He grew up on their farm in Waltham, Minnesota. He attended rural country school and Austin High School. Mel married Esther Mae Barber on May 9, 1954. They raised their family of six children in the Blooming Prairie area. Mel and Esther farmed until they moved to Blooming Prairie in 1963. They were later divorced. Shortly after moving to Blooming Prairie, he started Mel Schneider Trucking business. His greatest love and joy were his family. To Mel, his grandchildren felt like they were “his buddies.” He loved fishing and animals and had many pets throughout the years. Mel loved music and attending dances, where he met Darlene Zimmerman of Waseca, Minnesota. They married on Aug. 4, 2007, and made their home in Albert Lea. Together, they ran Mel’s Golf Cars of Albert Lea until retirement in 2018. Mel was a member of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Loyal Order of Moose, and Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Survivors include his wife, Darlene Schneider of Albert Lea; children, Cathy Boever of Blooming Prairie, Terry (Barb) Schneider of Blooming Prairie, Cheryl (Larry) Shoden of Rochester, Minnesota, Brenda (Scott) Thompson of Austin, Minnesota, and Rhonda (Dennis) Underdahl of Austin; Darlene’s children, Gail Zimmerman of Waseca, Carol (Chip) Crosby of Janesville, Minnesota, Cindy (Mark) Buker of Rosemont, Minnesota, and Paul Zimmerman of Waseca; 13 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; Darlene’s five grandchildren; brothers, Vern Schneider of Austin and Art (Tammy) Schneider of Waltham; sisters, Eldora Barber of Dodge Center, Minnesota, Marion Schneider of Waltham and Maxine (Keith) Bruemmer of Elgin, Minnesota; and brother-in-law, Clem Howe of Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Martha Schneider; infant son, Randall Schneider; daughter, Karen Schneider; grandson, Jason Schneider; son-in-law, Tim Boever; sister-in-law, June Schneider; and brothers-in-law, Dale Howe and Lloyd Barber.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 30450 570th Ave., Waltham, MN 55982. Visitation will be held from 4-7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Interment will be in St. Michael’s Lutheran Cemetery in rural Waltham. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.