Armin William Schannuth of Blue Springs, MO, passed away peacefully at home November 3, 2024 at the age of 85. He was a dedicated husband, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend to all. Armin was born April 5, 1939 in Independence, MO, the only child of Armin J. Schannuth and Irene Opfer-Schannuth who died in childbirth. Armin Wm’s maternal grandparents stepped in to help with child-rearing and Armin grew up mostly on their farm in Higginsville, MO. He soon had a devoted step-mother in Beulah Kreeger-Schannuth and two half-siblings, Robert and Bonnie, residing in Independence. Armin Wm. (‘Sonny’, so as not to be confused with his father Armin J.) graduated from Higginsville High School in 1957 where he was president of the Future Farmers of America chapter.

But farming wasn’t for Armin. Despite his lifelong affection for Higginsville, he enlisted in the Navy straight out of high school to seek out his future. His fondest memory of that time was being at sea on the USS Northampton, a fleet command ship at the time. Post-Navy, the GI Bill helped Armin go to college at the University of Missouri – Columbia. While a student, he met Alice Ida Beckfield who worked at State Farm Insurance.

Love blossomed and Armin and Alice were married March 13, 1964 in Columbia, MO. It was Alice’s 21^st birthday.

Moving to Independence, Armin and Alice had two children, Todd and Tina, who eventually gave the couple four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

While working for the Independence Health Department, Armin received a master’s degree in Safety from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg. This led to a second career; working in Safety for Independence Power & Light from which he retired in the early 2000s.

Armin was a diehard railfan and railroad historian. He walked nearly the entire Katy Trail, bit by bit, from Clinton to Machens when it first opened. His affinity for trains and railroading led him to volunteer with preservation of the Chicago & Alton Depots in Independence and Higginsville. It also undoubtedly led to his third career – thirteen years as a Locomotive Engineer at the MFA grain elevator in his beloved Higginsville.

For the last several years, he delighted in having coffee with friends in the Rusty Zipper Club in Higginsville, and with ‘the guys’ at the Main Street Coffee House in Independence.

Armin was baptized April 16, 1939 and confirmed March 29, 1953. Over the years, he attended Salem United Church of Christ, St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, Ascension Lutheran Church, and Messiah Lutheran Church.

Armin is preceded in death by his parents, step mother, and half-brother Robert. He is survived by his wife, Alice; sister Bonnie; his son Todd (wife Linda, daughter Ariel, son-in-law Joe, and their sons Benjamin and Jackson); his daughter Tina Jons (husband Kurt, children Jacob, Zachary and Sophia, plus Jacob’s twin boys Liam and Brantley); along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Interment will be Monday November 25 at 3:00PM at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Higginsville. A Celebration of Life will be held from 5:00-7:00PM the same day at Salem United Church of Christ – Higginsville. Check for any updates on the Royer Funeral Home Facebook page and website.

Donations can be made in Armin’s memory for preservation of either Chicago & Alton Railroad Depot  by clicking on the links below or to the Independence depot via check to “Friends of Chicago & Alton Depot” c/o Bruce Lindgren 336 E Bellevista Dr. Independence, MO 64055 or the Higginsville depot via check to “Harvey J Higgins Historical Society” 2113 S. Main St, Higginsville, MO 64037.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/honor-armin-schannuths-legacy
https://www.gofundme.com/f/honor-armin-schannuth-donate-to-museum

Obituary submitted by family