Jane Schneider

(From Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home)

Miss Jane has joined the heavenly marching band.

Jane Ross Schneider died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020 from complications of Alzheimer’s and a fall. She was 94. She was born March 8, 1926 in Lamar, MO to Guy and Goldia Ross. 

As a child she kept up with her older brother Bob, preferring tree climbing to dolls. She had an early interest in music and played clarinet in the Lamar High School band. She won a music scholarship to Drury University, where she graduated in 1948. Jane was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. After graduation, Jane taught music and band at Strafford High school, and played bass in the Springfield Symphony.

While at Drury, she met her true love, Henry Sanford Schneider, and they married June 20, 1952. After an automobile honeymoon through the West, the couple lived in Greenwich Village, New York City where Henry had a job on Wall Street. They loved the city and, after moving back to Springfield in 1953, visited often. Travel also remained an important part of their lives, and together they visited all seven continents.

Jane and Henry had three children, Susie, Mike and Monty. Jane remained active in community life, devoted to the welfare and education of children. She was a charter member of the Community Service League (later the Junior League of Springfield), and served her community in Camp Fire Girls (Board President), the YWCA (Board President), helped with the Boys Horton Smith and City Golf teams, and was a Greenwood Sports Booster. She was also a board member of the Schneider Foundation, a charitable trust supporting the Summit School, and Springfield Public School Foundation, to name a few.

Jane was a member of Hickory Hills Country Club, and from 1987-2015, a member of Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert, California where she and Henry had a winter home. Miss Jane cherished her family, and her many friends. She loved spring flowers, a good round of golf, driving her vintage Rolls, and any kind of candy. There was nowhere she went that Miss Jane didn’t make a friend, and she was known for her wit, infectious laugh, and storytelling.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister-in-law Robert and Patricia Vincent Ross, and many cousins.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Henry; three children: Susan (Don) Holliday, Nixa, Dr. John Michael (Karen) Schneider, Strafford, and Ross Montgomery (Kristin) Schneider, Springfield; 8 grandchildren: Charles, Andrew (Jaime), Anna and Emma Jane Schneider, Sarah (Shane) Reichert, Jenny (Brett) Coluccio, and Luke and Eva Holliday; one step-grandchild Sam (Stephanie) Holliday; 5 great grandchildren and 4 step-great grandchildren. In addition, Jane is survived by her AFS son, Dr. Filip Otten (Lieve), Antwerp, Belgium.

The family would like to thank Home Sweet Homecare, especially Mary, Kimberly and Jeanne, Mercy Hospital, and Springfield Rehabilitation and Long Term Care for Jane’s last months of care. 

A memorial event will be scheduled in the spring, Private graveside services are planned. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to the charity of the donor’s choice.