Darrell Snitker
Darrell F. Snitker, 75, of Waukon died Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Funeral services were held Saturday, February 11 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial with military honors was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Darrell Francis Snitker was born March 10, 1941 in Waukon, the son of Lawrence Elmer and Helen Minnie (Goeke) Snitker. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon. Darrell graduated from Waukon High School, where he was a conference champion wrestler. From 1960-64, Darrell served in the Air Force and fought in Vietnam from 1963-64.
July 1, 1961, he married Kay Ewing, who he met in high school, at Rossville Presbyterian Church in Rossville. After returning home from the military, Darrell and Kay farmed for a few years in the Waukon/Rossville area; in 1971, they bought a farm west of Waukon where they have been ever since. They milked and raised cattle, pigs, capons and crops. In the 1990s, Darrell and Kay bought and operated the Waukon Inn for 16 years. Darrell washed dishes and cooked, but especially enjoyed socializing with everyone that came in.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Waukon and the VFW. He loved to go fishing with his family in De Soto, WI and liked to garden, growing flowers, tomatoes and a variety of vegetables. Darrell enjoyed camping on the farm, especially playing bean bags and horseshoes. In recent years he found enjoyment from jigsaw puzzles and word searches.
With Kay, he traveled to places like the Bahamas, Hawaii, the Black Hills and Branson. This coming May, Darrell was looking forward to a trip to Washington D.C. for an honor flight. He loved his grandchildren and “grand-dogs”. He thoroughly enjoyed going to all the grandchildren’s sporting events; never missing any of their games, no matter how poorly he felt.
Darrell is survived by his wife, Kay, of Waukon; his four children: Dacia Armstead, Dawn Snitker and Dustan (Lana) Snitker, all of Waukon, and Darren (Lisa) Snitker of Spring Valley, MN; nine grandchildren; a sister, Kathy Snitker of Waukon; a brother-in-law, Eldon Lenth of Elgin; and his sisters-in-law, Rose Snitker, Sheryl Bieber and Dorothy Rolston, all of Waukon.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Faye Lenth; two brothers, Robert and Virgil Snitker; and a great-nephew, Bryce David.
Honorary casketbearers were Billy and Sandra Peede and Charlie Welch. Casketbearers were Evan and Ellec Armstead, Kaedan, Meridian, Kyrie and Jared Snitker, Maddie, Sam and Max Snitker, and Tom and Tim Welch.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
