Harlo Kent Schneekloth

OBITUARY | Harlo K. Schneekloth

In the early 1940’s, a young Freddie Schneekloth would meet and soon marry Violet Hoffman. Harlo Kent Schneekloth, their son, was born February 18, 1943. Named for Jene Harlow, he was an only child. After a complicated and chronic pulmonary condition, Harlo passed away at his home on July 11th, 2025 at the age of eighty-two.

Harlo grew up on the farm in Hunter Township, Minnesota. He was confirmed on July 21, 1957 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, south of Lakefield, Minnesota.

After graduating as Class King from Jackson High School, Jackson, Minnesota in 1961, Harlo joined the Air Force. He was attached to the B-58 bomber loading ordnance and performing maintenance. It was near the air base in Little Rock, Arkansas that he proposed to the girl of his dreams, Georgia Sue Thormann, whom he had met while delivering milk for Wells Blue Bunny at the National Grocery in Spirit Lake, Iowa where she worked. The two were married on November 27, 1964. They would go on to enjoy a fifty-five year history together - lavishly spoiling their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Upon receiving an honorable discharge from the Service, Harlo and Georgia started their small family with the addition of their daughter, Tammy Kay born in 1967, Todd Kent in 1970, and Troy Kyle in 1975.

Following several moves, the family finally landed in Slayton, Minnesota where Harlo accepted the role of Plant Manager at Page 1 Printers, a job he held from 1979 to 1998. Bringing his career in printing to a close, Harlo enjoyed working for Dauphin Graphic as an installer and trainer. It was there that he headed up CMYK University and trained future press operators and installers. Upon retirement, Harlo and Georgia relocated to Columbia, Tennessee and then to Madison, Alabama just outside of Huntsville.

Harlo’s love of sports was intertwined throughout his life. He “lettered” in football and baseball throughout each year of his high school career. He played baseball on every air base to which he was stationed. Harlo played fast-pitched coed softball with Georgia. He coached his kids teams, and loved watching his grandchildren compete – Harlo was 100% vested in each and every game. Along with catching Auburn College Football Fever, Harlo continued to cheer for his beloved Minnesota Twins and Vikings, he enjoyed attending the Trash Panda games and was always spot on calling the pitches and plays.

Harlo was a skilled and avid woodworker, renowned locally for his woodturning. But he was not just good with wood. There was nothing that he could not fix and he had every tool to prove it. Harlo had more patience than anything, and it served him well. Like Cesar Millan is to dogs, Harlo should have been known as the “Carburetor Whisperer”.

Harlo was an outlier: being born at home on the farm and NOT in a hospital, attending a one-room schoolhouse, growing up on a farm without running water and using an outhouse, farming together with his dad and a team of horses. He remembered the very first tractor they got on the farm: a small Chase, then later, a larger Case with more horsepower. By the time Harlo reached his end of years, much had changed. He was cooking with a microwave oven, had a phone in his pocket that held more computing power than he could ever need, had a pacemaker that kept his heart beating, and human beings had traveled beyond the stars and back. Electric cars buzzed about and AI is ever present. Yet through it all, Harlo remained humble, honest, caring and giving. Harlo lived a remarkable life. And he was a remarkable person – a son, husband, father, and friend. Harlo will be deeply missed by everyone he encountered.

Harlo is preceded in death by his parents, Fred & Vi Schneekloth; Georgia Schneekloth; his wife of 55 years, Jayne Hahne; Sister-in-law and beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.

Harlo is survived by; Daughter Tam [& Jay] Dahlgren of Crane Hill, Alabama; Son Todd Kent also of Madison, Alabama; Son Troy Schneekloth recently of Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Harlo is also survived by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: The Dahlgren Family; Nic & Hannah, Charlotte & Jay, The Clark Family; Ryan & Taylor, Felicity & Elizabeth, The Kent Family; Indie, Jaz & Cele; The Schiller Family: Tannor & Kelsie, Tinleigh & Amberlie [Millsaps], Ryder. In addition, Harlo is survived by his brother-in-law: Richard Hahne of Waukee, Iowa and Nieces Jill [& Gary] Hahn, Holli [& Doug] Wilson and their families.

A local visitation for family and friends will take place on Thursday, July 24th, 2025 at 9:30 AM, followed by a memorial service to be held at 10:30 at the Legacy Funeral Chapel, Madison, Alabama with Pastors Michael and Suzanne Katschke presiding.

For Harlo’s Northern family & friends, an internment ceremony will take place on August 23, 2025 at the Jackson Cemetery, Jackson, Minnesota where his parents and many family members are interred.

In lieu of flowers, Harlo’s family requests memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association [alz.org] or to a US Veteran organization of your choice.