James Schnell

James B. Schnell, 81, of Willmar, died Saturday, May 15, at the St. Cloud Hospital of a respiratory condition.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 18, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. A private burial will be held at the Minnesota State Veterans
Cemetery in Little Falls. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. Knights of Columbus Rosary on Monday, May 17, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. Memorials are preferred to the San Lucas Mission in Guatemala or the Church of St. Mary's Parish Nurse Program.

James Benedict Schnell was born July 26, 1928, in Stillwater, Minnesota, to George and Louise (Fazendin) Schnell. He grew up and received his education in Stillwater, graduating from Stillwater High School in 1946. He attended Dunwoody Institute and the University of Minnesota. In 1950, he married Mary Mahoney. Jim served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. In 1967, James and Mary moved to Willmar. He was an Auto Electrical Instructor at the Willmar VoTech for 23 years, retiring in 1990. He was a member of the Church of St. Mary and was active with the Knights of Columbus. He was an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts, AARP and many other organizations.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; a son, Joe Schnell of Spicer; three daughters, Barbara Brower of Buffalo, Rita (and Bill) Schuldt of Akeley and Carol (and Tom) Gustad of Fargo; eight grandchildren, Amy Brower, Kara Brower, Alicia (and Jason) Bailey, Nate (and Samantha) Brower, Heidi Gustad (and fiance, Ed), Adam Gustad, Bryon Schuldt and Diana Schuldt; three great-grandchildren, Isaiah Brower, Alivia Schroeder and Spencer Brower; two brothers, George (and Jeanne) Schnell of St. Paul and Dick Schnell of Plymouth; a sister, Helen Thomsen of Stillwater; and other relatives and friends.