His laughter was easy to identify, and in so many ways he rose above the crowd.

Henry Sanford Schneider, 98, died peacefully on September 11, 2024 at the Manor at Elfindale after a short illness. He was born June 8, 1926, in Springfield, MO to J. Montgomery and Margery Sanford Schneider. Henry grew up in Springfield and earned his first pocket money selling magazines door to door. He attended Greenwood, then followed his older brother, Monty, to McCallie Military Academy in Chattanooga, TN. After graduating, he attended the Severn School in Maryland and was a second for the US Naval Academy. Exempted from military service as a surviving son, he returned to Springfield and enrolled at Drury College (now university) where he graduated in 1949. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, and remained an active alumnus, helping administer and run the 1960's fund drive to build a new fraternity house. His support for Drury was long lasting, and he served on the Board of Directors in the 1980's, helping to grow the university's endowment. He was honored as a Distinguished Alumni.

After graduating from Drury, Henry had his pick of business school programs but chose Columbia University of New York City, where he was a distinguished student of Benjamin Graham. He graduated in 1950 with a MS in Business. He then worked in New York at several Wall Street firms. He earned his Financial Analyst certificate with additional work at Indiana and Oklahoma State Universities.

In 1951, family obligations brought him back to Springfield, and he reconnected with his college sweetheart, Jane Ross, the music teacher for Strafford Public School. They married in June 1952, and after a honeymoon in the west, they moved back to New York, where they had a tiny apartment in Greenwich Village and an easy commute to Wall Street. In 1953, they returned to Springfield to start a family, but New York always remained a part of their lives. They maintained friendships and connections through yearly visits until 2010.

Back in Springfield, Henry taught economics and business at Drury while starting his investment business. He also owned and operated a retail store, The Giant 8T8 Cent Store, on College Street just off the square. But his primary interest was investing, and he closed the store to manage investments full time. He founded and managed Henry S. Schneider and Associates, a limited partnership, until retiring in 1988.

Service to the community was always important to him, and if he could help, he was ready. In 1989, Henry and Jane established to Schneider Foundation to gift local agencies. They donated money to build the pool at the Springfield Family Y, Jones Branch, and to the Dickerson Park Zoo for his namesake, Henry Hippo. By the early 1990's, the Schneider Foundation was focused on gifted student education, and continues to support Summerscape, Summer Pals and the Leadership Academy at Drury University, the International Baccalaureate Program at The Springfield Public Schools, and the Summit Preparatory School, to name a few.

Henry had a lifelong love of travel and art. Planning trips and reading travel books were great hobbies, and he and Jane visited all over the world. Henry was also a talented pianist. He enjoyed playing golf with friends and family. In 1953, he recorded a hole-in-one while playing at Grandview.

He was a member of Hickory Hills Country Club, where he enjoyed family dinners, and meeting friends for the Friday Men's lunch group, men his friend Sam Hamra dubbed "The Senior Youngsters." Throughout his life, Henry loved learning, both through reading and meeting new people, and held a childlike curiosity and sense of humor about life.

He is survived by his three children: Susan Holliday of Nixa; Dr. John Michael Schneider (Karen) and Ross Montgomery Schneider (Kristin) of Springfield; 9 grandchildren: Charles, Andrew (Jaime), Anna and Emma Schneider: Jenny (Brett) Coluccio; Sarah (Shane) Reichert; Sam (Stephanie), Luke and Eva Holliday; and 10 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his AFS son, Dr. Filip Otten (Lieve), Antwerp, Belgium and Filip's family. Henry was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Jane; his parents, his brother, J. Montgomery Schneider, Jr.; son-in-law Dr. Don Holliday and a great granddaughter, Sophie Jane Holliday.

The family would like to thank Mary Stuckey for her years of companionship and loving care; Jim Arthur, for his devoted care and friendship; the staff at the Manor at Elfindale; and Preferred Hospice.

Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Thursday, September 26, 2024 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Graveside Service will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 27 in Hazelwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Springfield Public School Foundation, 1131 Boonville, Springfield, MO 65802, Drury University, or a charity of the donor's choice.