Claire Schnor, 94, of Oelwein passed away Friday April 25, 2025 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be on Friday May 2, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein. Funeral services will then begin at 12:00 PM at the funeral home with Pastor Josh Schunk officiating. Interment will be in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery at Sumner. Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation.
Claire Ervin Schnor was born in Rural Alpha on December 16, 1930 to parents Ervin and Velma (Winning) Schnor. He attended country school in the Alpha area. On January 16, 1949 he was united in marriage with Velma Nicklaus. She predeceased him. On August 7, 1986 Claire was united in marriage with Carol Meythaler at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.
From the time Claire was born he knew he wanted to be a farmer. He helped his dad and others as he was growing up and eventually having his own farm. He enjoyed the farm life. He loved watching baseball, camping, playing cards, polka music and dancing, going to the Amish auctions and bakery, yard work and tending to his many beautiful flowers. Even after retiring he still enjoyed going to the farm and helping out. Of course one of his greatest joys was his John Deere tractors. But above all he loved life and his family, as well as his cats Big Jake and Jazzy-showering them with love and affection.
Claire was just the kind of person who drew people in with his gift of gab and goofy humor. He never lost his childlike spirit and love for life.
Left to celebrate Claire’s life are his wife Carol; his children: Lisa (Robert) Guttormson of Calmar and Tonya (Justin Osmundson) Schnor of Cedar Rapids; his son-in-law Stan Koester of Sumner; his grandchildren: Dean (Sara) Koester and Angie (Marc) Rath; his five great-grandchildren; his brothers-in-law Kenneth (Jane) Meythaler and Dale (Cindy) Meythaler; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Velma and his daughter Lois Koester.
