Melford Wayne Schneider, 82, of Albert Lea, formerly of Blooming Prairie, died 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. 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 was 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. They married Aug. 4, 2007. They 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, Brenda (Scott) Thompson of Austin and Rhonda (Dennis) Underdahl, also of Austin; Darlene’s children Gail Zimmerman of Waseca, Carol (Chip) Crosby of Janesville, Cindy (Mark) Buker of Rosemont 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, Marion Schneider of Waltham and Maxine (Keith) Bruemmer of Elgin; 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 at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in rural Waltham, 30450 570th Ave, Waltham, MN 55982. Visitation will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church Saturday. 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.