John Joseph Schneider Jr., 97, of Festus died Oct. 28, 2018, at his home. Mr. Schneider was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a member of Sacred Heart Church and the former owner and operator of Colonial Cleaners and other local businesses. He was a member of VFW Post 3777 in Crystal City and American Legion Post 253 in Festus, and is the last known surviving charter member of Elks Lodge 1721. He chaired the original fundraising drive in 1957 for Jefferson Memorial Hospital and served as its board president from 1976-1989. He was a commercial pilot, a member of the Festus/Crystal City Conservation Club and the Missouri Conservation Federation, and was a member and former president of the Twin City Chamber of Commerce. Born March 10, 1921, in St. Louis, he was the son of the late Pearl Mary (Witham) and John Joseph Schneider Sr.
He was preceded in death by his wife: Dorothy Mae “Dottie” (Jacobs) Schneider; and eight siblings: Delores (the late Louis) Basler, Juanita (the late Carl) Porchey, Ruth (the late Art) Bemis, Joe Schneider, Lorraine (the late Harold) Plass, Agnes Schneider, Lorena Schneider and Gus Schneider.
Visitation is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 555 Bailey Rd., in Crystal City, officiated by Father Clark Maes. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to Comtrea or the YMCA. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.