Nina Gail Day Schnell

Nina Gail Day Schnell

Jan. 12, 1922 - July 2, 2012

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Nina Day Schnell died Monday (July 2, 2012), in North Platte surrounded by family.

She was born on Jan. 12, 1922, to Omar and Sarah Day in their sod farm house near Ruleton, Kansas during a fierce blizzard. She grew up during The Great Depression and The Dust Bowl and began her formal education in a one room country school. She attended high school in Goodland, Kansas where she met Dennis Schnell. They were married on Aug. 20, 1939, and were together for 62 years until his death on Oct. 9, 2001.

During those years they moved many times as they farmed, built and operated the Silver Leaf Motel in Culbertson, Nebraska, and eventually bought land in Wellfleet and worked together to build their dream. She also worked as a secretary and later, as a phone operator for the Union Pacific Railroad. After retirement the couple moved to a home overlooking Jeffrey Lake and the Platte Valley. After her husband died, she moved to Oak Manor.

She was a member of the Wellfleet Methodist, Church, Banner Methodist Church, and most recently Calvary Baptist in North Platte.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Marvin Day; sisters, Naomi Thompson and Burnetta Petersen and one grandson.

She is survived by four children, Larry (Marilyn) Schnell of North Platte, Linda Strohfus of Brandon, Florida, Cheryl (Bob) Wheeler of Ventura, California, and Gary Schnell of Tempe, Arizona, 11 grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and hosts of friends.

Visitation is 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 7, 2012, at 1 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 900 East 2nd, North Platte, Nebraska with Pastor Ryan Alexander officiating. Memorials to Calvary Baptist Church or the North Platte Senior Center.