Darrell Snitker

Darrell F. Snitker, 75, of Waukon, IA, died Tuesday, February 7, 2017, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, IA. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 11th, at 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Darrell Francis Snitker was born March 10, 1941, in Waukon, IA, 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. On July 1, 1961, he married Kay Ewing, who he met in high school, at Rossville Presbyterian Church in Rossville, IA. 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; brother-in-law Eldon Lenth of Elgin, IA; and sisters-in-law Rose Snitker, Sheryl Bieber, and Dorothy Rolston, all of Waukon.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Faye Lenth; two brothers Robert and Virgil Snitker; and a great-nephew Bryce David.

Honorary casketbearers are Billy and Sandra Peede and Charlie Welch. Casketbearers are Evan and Ellec Armstead, Kaedan, Meridian, Kyrie, and Jared Snitker, Maddie, Sam, and Max Snitker, and Tom and Tim Welch.