Jean P. Snitker

Tuesday, October 1, 2019 7:26 pm

Jean P. Snitker, 94, of Postville, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services are Thursday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon, with Pastor Tim Rupert officiating. Burial is in the church cemetery. Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until time of service at the church Thursday. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Zalmona Presbyterian Church or Good Samaritan Center in Postville.
Her grandchildren will serve as casket bearers and honorary casket bearers.

Online condolences may be left at martinfunerals.com.

Jean Phyllis Snitker was born Oct. 30, 1924, in rural Waukon, the daughter of Edward and Clara (Winke) Kugel. She was baptized and, on April 2, 1939, confirmed at Zalmona Presbyterian Church. Jean attended Ludlow No. 2 rural school through eighth grade and graduated from Waukon High School in 1942. She married Merlin Calvin Snitker at the Zion United Church of Christ parsonage in Waukon Nov. 26, 1942. To this union three sons and four daughters were born. Jean and Merlin were involved in farming all of their working lives. Their first several years together they farmed at several different area places until settling on what would be their home farm in Ludlow Township in 1954. Jean would continue living in the country until 2015 when she moved to Grand Meadow Glen where she quickly made friends and truly enjoyed her new “family.”

Throughout her life Jean maintained a strong faith in God. As a loyal member of Zalmona Presbyterian Church she taught Sunday School, assisted with vacation Bible School, and was involved in Presbyterian Women and Circles. She enjoyed listening to Billy Graham and Dr. David Jeremiah as well as other Christian programs on the radio. Jean liked to write and sent numerous cards and letters to friends and family as well as kept a journal of her daily life. She also enjoyed reading, gardening and puzzles and was an excellent cook and baker, never letting a visitor in her home go hungry. She appreciated some special times with Merlin as they traveled to a wide variety of places across the country. Family was central to Jean’s life which she demonstrated by the way she raised her children, cared for her mother the last two years of her life, and kept up with the activities of her many grandchildren and their families.

Survivors include her children: Larry (Sharon) Snitker of Waukon, Suzanne Berg of Decorah, Julie (Donald) Russell of DeWitt, Jolene (Joe) Duwe of Postville, Randy (Beth) Snitker of Postville and Glen Snitker of Chandler, Ariz.; 15 grandchildren: Todd (Rhonda) Snitker, Christi (John) Regan, Corey Snitker, Ryan (Trista) Snitker, Tracy (John) Hjelle, Aaron Berg, Brian (Eva) Olson, Bruce (Erika) Olson, Tina (Zachary) Summers, Travis (Julie) Russell, Shannon (Michele) Duwe, Angie (Dustin) Mohs, Bradley (Heather) Snitker, Matthew (Natalie) Snitker and Anthony (Mark) Snitker; 31 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Sandi Kugel and Betty Snitker; brother-in-law Don Johnson; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Merlin, who died in 1993; a daughter Diane and her husband Tennis Foels; a grandson Adam Berg; her sister Verla Cade; her brother Arlyn Kugel; 10 brothers-in-law and nine sisters-in-law.