Obituary of Gerald Ernest Snyder

Gerald (Jerry) E. Snyder passed away at his residence on April 10, 2016. He was born on December 1, 1931 in Superior, Nebraska. Jerry graduated Nelson High School, class of 1949 in Nelson, Nebraska. He began working for the Union Pacific Railroad when he was just seventeen. Except for his service in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, he spent nearly 39 years with the Union Pacific Railroad. Jerry married Gail Ellen Lewis in Los Angeles, California on March 4, 1972. They lived in Los Angeles and Wyoming prior to moving to Lake Havasu City, Arizona after Jerry retired from the railroad in 1988. Jerry enjoyed playing softball, Nebraska Cornhusker Football, bowling and golfing. His greatest joy was spending time with his children and grandchildren and Saturday Mass at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. He held membership in the Elks, Eagles, Masons and the Wyoming and Colorado Peace Officers Association, as well as the Fraternal Order of Police. Jerry is preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Gail Snyder; parents, Harold and Ruby Snyder; grandparents, William Snyder and Rosa Schmitt and Edward Gillan and Lillian “Pearl” Nelson; and grandchildren, Alan Gibson and Jeremy Harper. He is survived by his son, Michael Snyder; daughters, Kim O’Banion, Shiela (Bill) Hobbs, Jeri Doege, Jeanne (William) Collie, Christy (Bob) Mirabella, Michelle Spicher, and Danelle Crain; sister, Karen (Darrell) Harrington, as well as 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Donations may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, Elk’s Scholarship Fund or local schools in Jerry’s honor. Funeral services will take place Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home Chapel at 12:00p.m. Burial will follow at Lake Havasu Memorial Gardens. Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. Thoughts and condolences may be sent to Jerry’s family at www.lietzfrazefuneralhome.com.