Gordon Birtley “Birt” Schneider, age 88 of Afton/Hudson, died Saturday July 28, 2012 at the Christian Community Home in Hudson. Birt was born on September 2, 1923 in Conyngham, Pennsylvania; the son of Gordon and Mabel (Winters) Schneider.  Birt was raised in Pennsylvania where he graduated from West Hazelton High School. His college education was interrupted by two years in the Army Air Force, from which he was honorably discharged in 1945.  Following WWII, he completed a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University. On June 20, 1948, he was united in marriage to his best friend and soul mate, LuElla Mae Luehring, at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lanham, Kansas. Birt was a gifted engineer who was more than intrigued by what made things tick and work. He excelled as an innovator and his imagination brought him a rewarding career and personal life. He began working for Pratt and Whitney in Connecticut, helping develop new airplane engines. In 1951, the Schneiders moved to Minnesota, where Birt began working at Honeywell for a few years before embarking on a fulfilling thirty year career at 3M Company in St. Paul. He retired in 1986. Birt was well informed on everything he did. He loved to read; everything from science fiction, to owners manuals, to esoteric scientific journals. He was creative, innovative, and somewhat of an inventor. He had many interests and was continually doing projects, including building their garage and an addition on their home. In later years, Birt and LuElla were able to fulfill their desire to see the Arctic Ocean and to hike and explore national parks.  He loved music, never missing a Lawrence Welk episode, and teaching himself to play harmonica, ukulele, and keyboard. Until his last days in the nursing home, he played keyboard for the pleasure of his visitors, the staff and residents of the home.

Nothing gave him more happiness than being surrounded by his family.
Birt will live on in the hearts of his children Peter (Gayle) of Lake Elmo, Warren (Linda Robertson) of Hudson, Lois (Don) Anderson of Hudson, Kurt (Kim) of Lake Elmo, grandchildren Shannon (Mike) Maron of Afton, Geoff (Stacy) Davis of New Richmond, Jon (Jo) Davis of Ellsworth, Anne (Jamie) Zezza of River Falls, Ellen (Tyler) Canopy of Eau Claire, Nathan Schneider of Lake Elmo, Rachel Schneider of Lake Elmo, Lindsay (fiancée Paul Wrighton) Schneider of Madison, Michael(Lisa) Anderson of Hudson, Jason Anderson of Boulder, CO., 13 great grandchildren, and his brother Elwood (Barbara) Schneider of Gaithersburg, Maryland. His wife LuElla preceded him in death.
Funeral Celebration of Life will be 11a.m. Friday August 3 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Afton with Pastor Erland Asmus officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4 until 7 p.m. at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Hudson as well as one hour prior to the service at church Friday morning. Memorials preferred to the Christian Community Home in Hudson.  Services are in the care of the O’Connell Family Funeral Home – Hudson Chapel.  715.386.3725