Donald J. SNELL

SNELL, HEIMGARTNER, TAMMEN, EGLI, WOOSTER, BYGNESS, SMITH, ASCHERL, BOCK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/17/2010 at 10:41:46

August 17, 2010
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

MANSON, IA - Donald J. Snell, 74, of rural Manson, died August 14, 2010, at his home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at the Gunderson Funeral Home in Fort Dodge, with Pastor Karen Berg officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Fort Dodge, and a luncheon will be served at Riverside United Methodist Church, 610 Avenue C, Fort Dodge. Memorials may be directed to the discretion of the family.

Don is survived by Verna, his wife of 51 years, children, Denise (Don) Heimgartner of Manson, Scott (Cheri) Snell of Webster City, Sharon (Don) Tammen of Renwick, and Brett (Danna Rae) Snell of Manson. Don and Verna have 20 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; sisters Marilyn Egli, Alecia (Doug) Wooster, Pam (Gary) Bygness, all of Fort Dodge, Cheryl (Ward) Smith of Duncombe, brothers, Gordon Snell, Cedar Falls and Roger Snell, Duncombe. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant twin sisters, and a brother-in-law.

Donald J. Snell, the son of Hiram and Alice (Ascherl) Snell, was born February 18, 1936 in Duncombe. He attended country schools in Clarion and Fort Dodge, and graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High in 1954. In 1958, he married Verna Bock. The couple has made their home on an acreage south of Manson for the past 45 years. Don drove truck for 52 years, but would say he never worked a day in his life. He enjoyed working on their acreage, restoring antique Oliver tractors and tinkering with garden tractors. Don especially loved good coffee, colorful conversation, and spending time with his family.