Fern M. Snyder

Fern Marguerite Snyder was born October 4, 1918 at Western, Nebraska to parents Jesse and Muriel (Bennet) Snyder.   She received the rites of Holy Baptism officiated by Pastor Henry W. Wagner at the Methodist Church in Western on August, 1, 1920.

She received her early childhood education at Rural Schools in the Western area, completing the 8 ^th grade.  She helped on the family farm and also did housekeeping for several relatives.  She recalls cleaning for an Aunt and Uncle and always finding her payment hidden under a doily.

Fern was united in marriage to Harold G. Snyder of Fairbury on December 21, 1938 at the Methodist Parsonage in Washington, Kansas by the Reverend J. H. Hoopingarner.  To this union two children were born Glen Raymond and Jane Ann.

Fern was a devoted Homemaker and Mother.  She also did babysitting in her home as well as providing a laundry/ironing service to several families.  She was a talented seamstress making many of Jane’s clothing and in later years square dance outfits for Jane and Dean.  Sunday dinners were always shared with Family and Family birthdays were always celebrated with homemade ice cream and cake.  Harold and Fern were avid gardeners and Fern enjoyed canning their produce.

One of the first little guys Fern babysat for was Jeff Mason.  She surprised him one Christmas in making blue colored cookies.  This started a yearly tradition which carried over into Jeff’s adult life and later also for her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. Christmas gatherings always featured Fern’s blue cookies and her date pudding.

For her 75 ^th Birthday Fern received the KOLN-KGIN channels 10-11Sunshine Award for bringing a little sunshine into another’s life.  Fern always placed her Family first and spending time with them was her number one priority.   Her extended family fondly referred to her as Grandma S.

Fern never learned to drive but she was surrounded by a circle of special friends who included her in their social outings.  She and her special friend, Marie, were weekly volunteers at Jefferson Community Health & Life and they also enjoyed exercising together at the Burkley Wellness Center.

Fern became a resident of Cedarwood Assisted Living in 2013.  This quickly became her ‘Home’ where she participated in many activities as well as socializing with her new friends.  She enjoyed playing dominos and quickly organized a weekly group of lady participants.

Fern was honored by her Family for her 100 ^th birthday last October with an Open House at Cedarwood and later a Family Dinner.  She kept her birthday greetings by her chair and looked at them frequently, recalling what a special day that was for her surrounded by so much Love.

After suffering a stroke on June 19 Fern became a resident of Gardenside Long Term Care.  She adjusted to her new surroundings with grace and thankfulness.  A massive stroke on June 30 led to her passing on July 4 ^th .

Fern is survived by her son Glen Snyder and wife Diane of Los Gatos, California and daughter, Jane and husband Dean Pretzer of rural Diller; Grandchildren: Scott & Holli Pretzer and  Sheri and Jamie Schultis, all of Diller;  Lori and Dan Crawford of Beatrice;  Douglas Snyder of Clearlake Oaks, CA: Scott Snyder of Santa Clara, CA; and Greg and Michelle Snyder of Baltimore, MD;   Great Grandchildren, Reid and Skylar Pretzer, Caleb, Jadyn and  Brennan Schultis, Ella, Shelton and Boston Crawford,  Scott Steele and Syenna Snyder and Tessa and Everett Snyder; Cousin, Robert Wahl and wife Rosemary of Lincoln, special friend Marie Mason, many nieces and nephews  and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, in 1994; brother George and her parents, Jesse and Muriel.

Fern will be remembered as a very Sweet Lady who lived a simple life filled with Faith, Grace and Gratitude and also a very Special Lady who blessed all our lives with her unconditional Love.

Services for Fern will be Friday, July 12, at 10:30 a.m. at Gerdes Meyer Funeral Home with burial in the Fairbury Cemetery.  Memorials will go to the Family’s Choice. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral is in charge of arrangements.