Bernard "Barney" F. Snyders

Larchwood, IA Bernard Barney Snyders, age 87 of Larchwood, IA died Sunday, July 18, 2010 at the Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids, IA. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, with Fr. Jeff Schleisman as celebrant. Burial will follow at Larchwood Cemetery, with military honors by the Flessner American Legion Post No. 561. Visitation will be Monday, July 19th from 4 " 8 PM, with family present from 6 " 8 PM at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood. There will be a Vigil Service at 7 PM at the church Monday evening. The Jurrens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Bernard Francis Joseph Snyders was born on November 7, 1922, the son of Joseph and Lorena (Ripperda) Snyders on a farm one mile south of Larchwood where he grew up. Later his family moved to Larchwood where he attended St. Mary through high school. From January 1943 to February 1946, Barney served in the South Pacific Arena as a Technical Sergeant in the military police. Following his honorable discharge he attended two years of business school in Sioux City, IA. On January 30, 1956, Bernard was united in marriage to Dorothy Rath at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood. Barney and Dorothy made their home in Larchwood where they raised their daughter Rebecca and son Charles. Bernard worked for the U.S. Postal Service for thirty-six years as a dedicated Postal Carrier, assistant post master and postmaster in Larchwood. He was a member of The Church of St. Mary and a continuous member of the American Legion and VFW. He was an Optimist Club member for many years. Bernard had a loved for baseball and played until he was forty years of age. His passion for the game included being part of the 1959 South Dakota Amateur Baseball Championship team and later coaching the American Legion Baseball team in Larchwood. He also greatly enjoyed the game of golf and was the first Club Champion at the Meadow Acres Golf Course in Larchwood. Bernard enjoyed working in his vegetable garden and sharing the bounty he harvested. Later in life he enjoyed the many trips he took with his brothers and sisters and spouses as they traveled to see the many wonders of our country. This past Sunday morning Bernard passed away at the Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids at the age of eighty-seven. Bernard is survived by his two children, Rebecca (Michael) Muston of Eden Prairie, MN and Charles (Karen) Snyders of Omaha, NE; five grandchildren, Adam Muston of Atlanta, GA, James Muston of Taiyuan, China and Mark Muston of New York, NY; and Chesney and Kristin Snyders of Omaha, NE; five siblings, Veronica Scholten of Dell Rapids, SD, Theresa (Norbert) Bruggeman of Brandon, SD, James (Loraine) Snyders of Sioux Falls, SD, Dorothy Kelly of Mesa, AZ and Raymond (Addie) Snyders of Larchwood, IA; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dorothy, two brothers, John and Robert Snyders; and one sister, Marcella Snyders.