Delbert Scheider of Lena, Il passed away at his home on March 30, 2021 with his family and Pastor by his bedside.  He was 95.

He was born at Deaconess Hospital in Freeport, IL on April 5, 1925 to Clinton and Lorene (Frank) Scheider.  He attended a one room school through eighth grade, then graduated from Orangeville High School in 1942.  He graduated from Iowa State University in 1950 where he studied Dairy Science.  Delbert was married to Hulone Hammer of Anchor, IL for 61 years.  She preceded him in death on December 12, 2014.

He served in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II.  He was in the Philippines when word was received of the Atomic bomb being dropped on Japan.  Had the bomb not been dropped, he and his fellow troops would have been part of an invasion of Japan.

After college, Delbert was appointed Assistant Extension Advisor in McLean County, IL.  He later returned home to the Freeport area to operate the family farm, where he became a recognized leader and was well-known for his innovations in farrow-to-finish pork production.

Service to the Highland Community College was one of his proudest accomplishments.  He was a member of its first Board of Trustees, serving from 1966 to 1978.  Four years were served as the Board's Chairman.  He remained active on the Highland Community College Foundation Board from 1978 until 2020.  His passion and advocacy for the important role of the College to the community and agriculture was strong and unwavering.  He was recognized with Highland College's first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, an award that now bears his name in recognition of his contributions.

Delbert held many other positions and received numerous recognitions.  He was most proud of being named a Prairie Farmer Magazine Master Farmer in 1979.  He was a member of the Illinois Pork Producers Board of Directors.  He was an active conservationist throughout his life having installed miles of terraces on his farm and dedicating a substantial portion of one parcel to the planting of a variety of hardwood trees.  He was a lifetime salesman for Golden Harvest Seeds.

Delbert was a part of numerous other boards and organizations. From 1965 to 1995 he was on the Buckeye Mutual Insurance Board and held the Chairman Position from 1978 to 1995. He was also on the Board of Directors for the State Bank of Freeport, which is now the US Bank. Delbert was a part of the Lena Lions Club where he won multiple awards, one he was most proud of was Member of the Year.  He was President and Fall Fest Chairman.

He was a man with a strong faith as a longtime member of the Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Lena, IL.  He served on practically every board and committee in his church over his lifetime.

Delbert and Hulone had a passion for traveling and service.  They did international travel with volunteer service programs in Poland, Romania, Ghana, Costa Rica, Peru and the Cook Islands.  They also visited China and Japan.  They hosted many foreign visitors in their home.  Delbert captured many stories of their travels and his life on the farm in a personal memoir he wrote and is proudly displayed at the Cedarville Historical Society Museum in Cedarville, IL.

Surviving are two children, Tom (Mary) Scheider of rural Freeport and Joyce (Jon) Scholl of Cooksville, IL, four grandchildren, Jay (Jessi) Scholl of Peoria, IL, Jill Miller of Bloomington, IL, John (Jenna) Scheider of Waterloo, IA, and Lindsey (Nathan) Voegle of Sanibel Island, FL.  Delbert leaves behind six great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by one brother, Merwin, in Crystal Lake, IL.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Hulone, a sister, Shirley Jean Fitzpatrick, and grandson-in-law, Ryan Miller.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 5, 2021 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran church in Lena, IL.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Monday, April 5,2021 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lena, IL.

Social Distancing will be practiced and mask will be required.

Officiating the service will be Pastor Miho Yasukawa.

Burial will take place at Cedarville Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Delbert's honor can be made to the Highland Community College Foundation and the Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Lena.