Snieder, Burton 1930-1960

SNIEDER, GESINK

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 2/17/2014 at 23:32:59

Source: Sioux Center News (7-28-1960)

Born: 1930
Died: 1960

Burton Snieder, 30 year-old plumber of Hills, Minnesota, a former Sioux Center resident lost his life about 9:30 A.M. Friday while cleaning a septic Tank at Hills.

It is believed that he was overcome by septic gas while working near the top of the 40-foot cess pool that contained about 20 feet of water, and fell 20 feet into the water.

Snieder’s assistant had momentarily gone into the basement of the home adjacent to the cess pool and did not see him fall, but an elderly man who had been watching the cleaning operation from a short distance realized what had happened and immediately summoned help.

Within a few minutes rescuers succeeded with the use of a cable, which had been used to lower Snieder into the well, in pulling him out, but artificial respiration rendered by the rescuers and later by a resuscitator rushed to the scene by members of the Hills fire department failed to revive him.

Snieder was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Snieder of Sioux Center and father of three small sons ranging in age from 1 ½ to 5.His wife is the former Lois Gesink of Orange City.

Snieder was born and reared in Sioux Center and resided all his life here until going into the Army in 1952 for two years service. Before entering the service he had worked for a time at Casey’s Bakery and for a period of several months had driven a gravel truck.

Following honorable discharge from the Army in February in February, 1954, after service in Germany, he worked for about a year with his brother, Warren, of Sioux Center, and in 1955 moved to Hills, Minnesota, where he had since operated a plumbing business.

Surviving him, besides his wife and three sons of Hills and his parents of Sioux Center, are a sister, Mrs. Marvin Klomp of Rock Valley; two brothers, Warren and Norman, of Sioux Center; and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Steven Snieder of Sioux Center. The sons are David, 5, Dennis, 4, and Donald, 1 ½.

Funeral services were held at the Reformed Church in Steen, Minnesota, Monday afternoon, with the Rev. Van Oyen, pastor of the Christian Reformed Church at Hills, officiating. Burial was made in the Sioux Center Community Cemetery.