Loretta Snitker

Loretta M. Snitker, 87, of Tomah, WI, formerly of Waukon, IA, died Monday, August 27, 2018, in Tomah at the home of her daughter Diane Schmidt, who was her caretaker since July 2015. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 31st, at 11:30 AM at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon, IA, with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating and burial at the church cemetery. Friends may call from 9:30 AM until the time of services Friday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Loretta Mae Snitker was born June 6, 1931, on her parents' farm in Round Prairie Township, Waukon, IA; she was the only child of Melvin and Thelma (Kolsrud) Gjefle. Loretta was baptized and confirmed at West Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church in rural Waukon by Rev. Unseth. She grew up on her parents' farm in Jefferson Township and attended Jefferson #1 School through eighth grade; in 1949, she graduated from Waukon High School.

On June 22, 1950, Loretta married Donald David Snitker at West Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church. They lived with her parents and helped with the farming until 1953, when they rented the Emma Schmidt farm in Union Prairie Township. From 1956-63, they rented the Roland Herman farm in Makee Township; after having a farm sale, Loretta and Don bought a house in Waukon. Don then became a cement contractor while Loretta was busy raising their six children and also working part-time at several jobs including: baking and decorating wedding, anniversary, birthday, and graduation cakes, making lefse, house cleaning, and as a checkout clerk at Ozzie Quandahl's grocery business. In 1965, she was blessed to get a job in the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon as a deputy recorder. Loretta was always thankful to Keith Bigelow for hiring her, as well as Gladys Moe and Marilyn Clark Bulman, and giving her the opportunity to serve the public with the keeping and storing of important records. After retiring in June of 1993, Loretta and Don delivered the Cedar Rapids Gazette and La Crosse Tribune for three years until Don's health declined and they had to quit the paper routes.

Loretta and her family were members of Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon, where all her children were baptized. For a few years, they also attended Worldwide Church of God, but after her husband died, Loretta returned to Salem UCC, where she was happy to be back bonding and serving with so many dear friends and family. Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love and fellowship of kindred minds like to that above!

In 2001, Loretta sold her house and moved to Southcrest apartments in Waukon. She enjoyed the freedom to spend more time with her friends, attend family reunions, and spend precious time with family, watching the grandkids grow up. She also liked to read, solve word finds, embroider, and machine sew. In July 2015, Loretta was getting tired and falling, and needed more help so she moved to Tomah, WI, to live with her daughter Diane.

She is survived by five children: Diane Schmidt of Tomah, WI, Mary (Mark) Mathie of Wausau, WI, Judy Whitney of Mosinee, WI, Paul (Janelle) Snitker of Waterville, IA, and Janelle (Brian Lansing) Burckart of Waukon; 15 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; four sisters-in-law: LaVonne Brandt, Janet Snitker, Pat Snitker, and Mary Lou Snitker; one brother-in-law DuWayne (Laurayne) Snitker; her dear friends Marilyn (Bob) Bulman and LaVonne Hesse; and many nieces and nephews.

Loretta was preceded in death by her parents; husband Don in 1998; son Larry Dale Snitker in 2015; sons-in-law: Gary Schmidt in 2009 and Mark Whitney in 1982; father- and mother-in-law Leonard and Minnie (Flage) Snitker; three sisters-in-law: Jane Clara Snitker, Phyllis Snitker, and Joyce Snitker; and brothers-in-law Leonard Snitker Jr., Lloyd, David, Earl, and Dennis Snitker, LeRoy Winters, and Wayne Brandt.

Honorary casketbearers are her grandchildren: Jennifer (Rod) Schmidt, Michelle (Dave) Kerkhoff, Bryan (Melissa) Snitker, Marshall (Leanne) Whitney, Jennifer (Commander) King, Keri (Chris) Ranniker, Joshua and Nathan (Briane) Snitker, Alex (Tessa), Amy (Chad), Cierra, and Jaydon Snitker, Nicole (Chuck) Billick, and Tara Burckart; and her great-grandchildren: Lilly and Violet Kerkhoff, Ethan, Kradyant, and Krusta Whitney, Blake, Preston, Cameron, and Grant Ranniker, Jaidyn, Mya, Amare, and Isaiah King, Phoenix and Cassius Billick, Kaden Burckart and Haleigh Steege, Lexis and Liam Schmidt, Nash, Lyla Belle, and Lincoln Snitker, Elizabeth Snitker, Heather Hackman, and Justen Larsen.

Casketbearers are her grandson Justin (Emily) Schmidt and nephews: Scott, Steve, Brian, Jeff, and Herb Snitker.