Henry C. Schnoor, Jr., 76, Hastings

March 31, 1935 - December 14, 2011
 
    Henry Christian Schnoor, Jr., 76, of Hastings, passed away Dec. 14, 2011, at Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital in Council Bluffs. Funeral services were Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at the Mansfield-Hertz Funeral Home in Malvern with interment in the East Liberty Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established. Mansfield-Hertz Funeral Home of Malvern was in charge of arrangements.
    Henry was born March 31, 1935, in Council Bluffs, to Artie May (Harmon) and Henry Christian Schnoor. In September 1941, the family moved one mile across the section to the home place, northwest of Hastings. That same year, he started grade school at Golden Hill country school, 1/2 mile south of his home. He graduated from Malvern High School in 1953. While in high school, Henry participated in musical groups, both vocal and piano. Besides helping his father on the farm, his ambition was radio. After auditions in October 1955, he secured his own Sunday afternoon broadcast, “The Song Shop,” on KFNF Radio in Shenandoah, until 1964. The singing of pop tunes, accompanied by a pianist, and reading commercials turned into a very interesting winter hobby. From 1967 to 1978, Henry hosted an easy listening music broadcast, “The Sunday Album Show,” Sunday afternoons, at the KMA Radio Station in Shenandoah. He also sang at funerals and gatherings and could be found commentating, announcing, and singing, at the annual Dutch Gun Club’s 4th of July Celebration held at the Mills County Fairgrounds. Through the years, Henry attended adult farmer training classes and study of swine, which was his favorite. In the fall of 1985, he was nominated by the Mills County Pork Producers as a candidate for Master Pork Producer and was one of 26 from across Iowa to be selected for the Master Pork Producer Class of 1986. Due to declining health, Henry gave up farming in 1995, but continued his hog operation until his retirement in January 2000. He took great pride in keeping the building sites and yard mowed and trimmed and maintaining the appearance of the home farm.
    Henry and Edith Ann Blackman were married June 6, 1964, at the Malvern United Methodist Church. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Denell Ann and Darren Christian.
    Henry was a member of the Malvern United Methodist Church and sang in the church choir. He was a member of Farm Bureau and Mills County Pork Producers, and served as Pork Producers President. Besides farming and his hog operation, Henry enjoyed reading and watching anything about history, especially World War II. Above all, he loved to spend time with his family and grandchildren. In January 2005, Henry contracted a serious blood infection. Following three months of hospitalization and extensive physical therapy, he was eventually able to return home.
    Henry was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Edith Schnoor of Hastings; daughter Denell Moody and husband Don of Lincoln, Neb.; son Darren Schnoor and fiancé Meagan Hall of Glenwood; four grandchildren, Alexandria, Graham and Archer Moody, and Kennedy Hall; sisters-in-law, Grace Blackman of Hastings, and Beverly Hall of Malvern; niece Angela Doty; nephew Keith Foster; and many, many friends.