Jack Frederick Snyder

Jack Frederick Snyder was born on May 3, 1930 to George F. and Anna Louise (Barth) Snyder in Waco, Nebraska. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 6, 2023 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico at the age of 93.  George was a farmer so Jack joined in the farming endeavor about 1938. He attended Waco Public School from 1936 and graduated in 1948. The Senior Class of nine students were together for eight years.

Jack was an active musician. He began with piano lessons in the second grade but gave that up when he began playing the clarinet in the fourth grade. He also sang in groups at school, sang solos at weddings and funerals. His major sport at school was baseball and served as the pitcher. His best game was pitching 13 strikeouts.

One day in the Fall while Jack and his family were in Lincoln going to the state fair, Jack told his parents that he was going to the University of Nebraska. This event took place when Jack was entering the fourth grade. In the Fall of 1948, Jack enrolled at the University to begin classes in accounting. This was a wrong choice, the following year, he enrolled in the School of Music.

Jack graduated from the University in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree of Music in Education. He also received a commission as a second Lieutenant in the Adjutant General’s Corp, U.S. Army. He was ordered to attend the Adjutant General’s School at Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. While there, he received his orders to Korea and was stationed at the Inchon Replacement Depot until July 1955. He was reassigned to Ft. Sheridan and subsequently released from active duty to return to the University of Nebraska to pursue a Master of Music Degree.

Upon graduation, Jack was employed to teach music and English at Deshler, Nebraska. He then moved to Aurora, Nebraska to teach Vocal Music and English. During those four years, Jack drove to Lincoln one night a week to continue taking graduated classes. During the fourth year of classes, he received a phone call to see if he would be interested in a doctrine Fellowship for the 1960-61 school year. Jack graduates with a doctorate in 1961.

Jack was employed by Ball Staff Teachers College to supervise student teachers beginning in the Fall of 1961. He had 18-22 students to visit during the school day in the northern part of Indiana and he had 10 to 11 weeks to visit each student in Class, 2 to 4 times during the quarter. He did this supervision for four years; He then served as Assistant Graduated Dean and taught night classes in the supervision of instructors.

In 1972, Dr. Snyder went to Europe to teach three graduate classes to students in Germany and later at Soesterberg, Holland. While in Germany and Holland he had the opportunity to travel to Paris, London, Edinburg, Rome, Berlin as well as numerous other communities. He returned to Ball State University for the Spring quarter 1973 and was appointed as Director of Advanced Graduate Programs and Educational Administration. He was in charge of all graduate students as they arrived to work on a master’s degree, ED.S. Degree or a Ed.D. Degree Program in Educational Administration. He placed Doctoral Students in Fellowship Assignments, 20 per year, across the university. He continued to teach night classes and was Chairman of the College Promotion and Tenure Committee for four years. Dr. Snyder was held in high esteem by his students. He chaired more Doctrine Committees than any other member of his department and was a member of numerous other committees. After twenty-two years, Dr. Snyder retired in 1983.

Upon retirement, Jack and his wife, Molly, moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. He worked in real estate for several years before becoming an elementary school principal for six years and subsequently the superintendent for three years in Mountainair, New Mexico. He retired again this time in 1995. Upon retirement, he began doing scroll saw work and done craft shows in Albuquerque and the Black Hill. Many shows were junked and you were able to attend by invitation only. Jack saw intricate designs for boxes, pictures, night lights and inlay.

Jack and the love of his life, Mollie moved to Wray in 2002. He began directing the United Methodist Church Choir in 2003, a position he held for 13 years. He retired from that one year and then came back to direct another 2 years. He sang for a number of funerals when requested.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Mollie; sister, Irene Wilke of Ravenna, Nebraska; brother, Robert Snyder of York, Nebraska; and son, William of Paris, Arkansas.

He is survived by an estranged daughter, Theresa of Muncie, Indiana.

Cremation was requested with a Memorial Service and Inurnment in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado.

A Memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 10:00 a.m at the Wray United Methodist Church in Wray, Colorado.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Plains, 421 Main Street, Wray, Colorado 80758 or Friends of the Library, 301 W. 7th Street, Wray, Colorado 80758.

Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.