Lester W. Schneider, 79, of Columbia, died Feb. 3, 2015, in Columbia.

He was born July 27, 1935, in Columbia, son of the late Clarence and Lucretia (Rudolph) Schneider.

He was the beloved husband to the late Carol (Dohanich) Schneider. They were married August 17, 1963, in Columbia. She had passed away December 11, 2014.

Lester was a retired accountant with the Monsanto Corp. in Creve Coeur, Mo. He had served as Mayor of Columbia, for 12 years, and was instrumental in many projects including the Old St. Paul Lutheran Church restoration, and Columbia High School track and football field venues. He was a member of the Columbia Gymnastic Assoc., Columbia Sister Cities, and St. Paul Lutheran Church, and was an avid golfer. He had served in U.S. Army Intelligence in Germany.

Surviving are his son, Eric (Kelly) Schneider of Kirkwood, Mo.; daughter, Lori Evans of Columbia; grandchildren, Amanda Evans, Gabriel Evans, Sage Schneider, Kellan Schneider, Lindsey (Fabian) Duboeuf, Abby Eisenhart, and Jack Eisenhart; great-grandchildren, Anais, Caroline, Ettienne, and Mirabelle Duboeuf; brothers and sisters, Charlotte (Donald) Freeland of Columbia, Roger (Carrie) Schneider of San Clemente, Calif., Ralph Schneider of Columbia, and Joan (Nelson) Mathews of Columbia, along with other relatives and friends.

Visitation will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Feb. 6, 2015 at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia.

A funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. Feb. 7 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia.

Interment will follow in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Columbia.

Memorials may be made to the Old St. Paul Lutheran Church Restoration Fund., 227 Goodhaven Columbia, IL 62236.