Richard Snyder

Richard Cook Snyder was called home on October 4, 2024. Born January 28, 1923, to Paul and Opal Snyder, Richard lived an amazing 101 years on this earth.

Richard was raised the oldest of six children born to Paul and Opal, the much-loved big brother to his sisters. His early years were spent growing up on several different farms in Dallas County, which engrained a love for farming that stayed with him throughout his life.

Richard had no intentions of going to school past the 8th grade, so much so, he purposely failed the high school entrance exam. However, at his father’s “urging” and with permission from the county supervisors, he retook the exam and passed. He went on to attend high school in Van Meter and loved everything about it, from the education to participating in sports. To quote him, he would say his dad’s decision was one of the “best ever.”

Upon graduation in 1941, Richard worked as a farmhand, but soon went on to enlist in the Army (because he was colorblind, his first choice, the Navy, wasn’t in the cards). He proudly served in WWII and would go on throughout his life to share the stories of those years with his family and friends. It’s through those stories we all learned the sacrifices he, and all those who served, made for the United States and the rest of the world.

Upon his return from the war, he met and married his first wife, Cleola. To this union brought three children, Marcella Jean, Doug, and Donny. Richard and Cleola lost Marcella at birth, bringing with it a grief that transcended the years.

Throughout the years, Richard worked as a custodian for the Dexter, Redfield and Collins school districts. He then went on to purchase a filling station in Collins, where the family had settled. He owned the filling station for more than 25 years before moving on to work for 3M in Ames from where he would retire.

The move to 3M came shortly after a helicopter accident in which Richard suffered several injuries, the worst being to his ankle and leg. As evidenced by his long life, Richard was a strong, healthy man, it would take more than a helicopter crash to bring him down (or an aneurysm, or COVID at the age of 99).

When Cleola passed away in 1987, Richard made the decision to move to Adel to be closer to family.

Upon his return to Adel, Richard met Lucille Hol, a teller at the Brenton Bank. She looked familiar; however, her last name wasn’t ringing a bell. After about two years, he worked up the courage to ask her maiden name and learned it was Forret, Lucille Forret, a former classmate from Van Meter. As the story is told, unbeknownst to his family, Richard had a big crush on Lucy in high school. She was a couple of years ahead of him, so she didn’t even know who he was. Both now widowed, Richard asked Lucy to dinner. A year and half later he proposed marriage and the rest, as they say, is history. They went on to be married 25 years until Lucy’s passing in 2016. Richard was incredibly devoted to Lucy. Their real life love story was even featured in the article “Tell Me Your Love Story” by Mallory Davis. A true inspiration to family, friends, and strangers alike.

Richard was a longtime member of the St. John’s Catholic Church in Adel. It’s here he made beautiful friendships and came to know the meaning of a church family.

While Richard was loved by most everyone who knew him, it was his youngest sister, Kay, with whom he was particularly close. Perhaps it was because he was the oldest and she the youngest; or, because after their siblings passed away, it was the two of them left to carry on the Snyder legacy; or maybe something else entirely. Whatever it was, the two of them held a special brother/sister bond that words can’t adequately describe. As cliché as it sounds, to say Kay will miss him is truly an understatement.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Opal; spouse, Lucy; spouse, Cleola; daughter, Marcella; sons, Donny and Doug; sisters, Norma Herring, Florence Hutzell, Shirley Snyder; and brother, Phillp Snyder.

Left to carry on his memory are his sister, Kay Struble; grandson, Dallas Snyder; granddaughter, Natalie Snyder; daughter-in-law, Judy Snyder; as well as several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. John’s Catholic Church in Adel or Hospice of the Midwest.