Yorkville mayor honors resident for 100th birthday

UPDATED 5 P.M. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19:

YORKVILLE – A long-time Kendall County community member was honored for his 100th birthday during this week's Kendall County Board meeting after he was honored at last week's Yorkville City Council meeting.

Kendall County Board Chairman Scott Gryder honored John Schneider – a lifelong Kendall County resident who owned and operated Schneider's Hardware and Appliance Store with his wife, Ruth, for decades in downtown Yorkville before the store was torn down in the 1980s – during the Tuesday, Feb. 18 County Board meeting at the county office building in Yorkville.

Before presenting Schneider a plaque from the county commemorating his 100th birthday, Gryder said the county wanted to recognize him for his service as a building and plumbing inspector with the county from 1984 until retiring at age 94 in 2014. He said Schneider also worked in similar capacities in Yorkville from 1983 to 1994 and in Oswego from 1986 to 2006.

"Thank you for all of your service to the county of Kendall in all of your various capacities and [we] congratulate you on your 100th birthday," Gryder said.

The update comes after Yorkville Mayor John Purcell honored Schneider during the Tuesday, Feb. 11 City Council meeting through a proclamation.

Schneider was born Feb. 10, 1920, and served the city and county as a building and plumbing inspector, according to Yorkville city documents, after retiring from running his hardware store.

Purcell said in the proclamation city officials and residents are "most grateful for the contributions [Schneider] has made throughout his years living in the city and serving our country" and that he would like to extend his personal best wishes to Schneider. Purcell also gifted Schneider, who visits Purcell's local hardware store, a bag of birdseed during the Tuesday meeting and led meeting attendees in singing "Happy Birthday" to Schneider.

Schneider also served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946.

Purcell said in the proclamation Schneider currently serves with local chapters of the American Legion, Lion's Club and Masonic Lodge. Schneider, who was accompanied by many relatives to the Tuesday meeting, said he also continues to stay active by doing yard work, taking care of his house and helping anyone who may need it.

The county recognition and city proclamation comes after Illinois Lions Club leaders congratulated Schneider on the milestone at the Yorkville Lions Club regular meeting this month. Yorkville Congregational Church also held a special dinner for him recently to celebrate his birthday.

Following the proclamation read by Purcell on Feb. 11, Schneider shared a piece of advice for those who want to live until they're 100 years old.

"Just keep doing something," Schneider said. "You can't just sit down and rot. You've got to keep doing something."

• This story has been updated since Feb. 12 to include additional comment from Kendall County officials after recognizing Schneider for his 100th birthday during the County Board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18.