Gary Schell February 18, 1956 - April 7, 2021

Gary Lee Schell

65, sailed into the mystic before dawn on April 7th. Gary was born and raised in Jerseyville, IL, and is the sixth of Ray and Aggie Schell’s 13 children. Gary is survived by his wife of nearly 43 years, Joann and their four children, Anna and her husband, Tom, Vince and his wife, Kristin, Laura and her husband, Ryan, and Danny and his wife, Erica. He was a beloved Pops to five grandchildren, Sam, Charlie, Natalie, Henry, and Nora. His loving siblings include Barb Schell, Wayne Schell, Ginny Fitzjarrald, Dennis Schell, Doug Schell, Pat Schell, Janet Holmes, Guy Schell, Kathy Hilton, Constance McDaniel, Cindy Parrish, and Jim Schell. He graduated from Quincy University where he made many lifelong friends. In 1978, he married Joann Schroeder and started a beautiful family. They moved to St. Louis in 1984 where Gary began his career as a financial adviser. He showed genuine interest in his advisee’s lives and family before getting down to business resulting in clients who stayed with him for his entire 37-year career. Gary and his family are a part of the Mary Queen of Peace parish, where he was actively involved offering his help anywhere needed from coaching his kid’s sports teams to building the nativity on the church roof every Christmas and was also part of the Men’s Club and a men’s rosary group. Gary also served on the St. Louis Archdiocese School Board and Cardinal Ritter College Prep Board. His family always looked forward to Christian Family Camp each summer, so much so Gary and Joann were called to become directors of the camp for 7 years. He is remembered as a loyal family man who was steadfast in his faith and worked hard to support all his loved ones, his community, and those in need. On weekends he enjoyed backyard barbeques, sunsets on the family’s farm, Cardinals games, and riding his bike. He saw the importance of showing thanks for his good fortune by giving back. He was a renaissance man with a passion for many things including history, especially the Civil War, music, sports, and the outdoors.

There will be a reception in Gary’s memory at Third Degree Glass, 5200 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108, from 6pm to 10pm on Friday, April 16th. The Funeral Mass will take place at Mary Queen of Peace, 676 W Lockwood Ave, Webster Groves MO 63119 at 10am on Monday, April 19th followed by his burial in Jerseyville, IL.  The Mass will also be live-streamed on the Mary Queen of Peace Facebook page and also posted for later viewing. To view the funeral Mass go to www.facebook.com/mqpwg (no Facebook account required to view).  In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to St. Vincent DePaul Society.