Robert "Bob" Snyder

On Friday, June 9, 2023, Robert "Bob" Snyder, of Beloit, Kansas, peacefully passed in Salina after an arduous battle with renal disease. He was born to Clyde and Leona (Ganoung) Snyder on January 6, 1947, in the Mitchell County Hospital, KS.

Bob grew up on a small family farm in southwestern Osborne County where he had chores of feeding pigs and milking cows. Each week began as they attended a community church on Sundays and during the week, to get to school, he and his sister Lavene walked, rode bikes, a tractor, or a horse to and from a country school, yet perhaps his fondest memories of his youth, included the dog he says, "followed him everywhere."

In 1956, after cancer was found in his father, he began helping by working in the fields, putting up hay, and cutting wheat and milo. Then in the fall of 1962, he began high school in Osborne where he played football, was in FFA, took a metal shop where he learned how to make trailers, stock racks and loading chutes, and even enjoyed a class trip to Denver before graduating in 1966. Following graduation, he rented an apartment in Beloit and began heavy equipment classes at Vo-Tech and on the weekends made the 44-mile trek back home to work on the farm.

With this training, he began work in road construction, yet after a farming accident, he'd make the transition to a roughneck in the oil fields, setting up rigs and drilling wells, eventually moving to Hoisington working long hours just to earn a day off. But farming was in his blood, and around 1970, he went to work as a feed mill operator in Mankato for Midway COOP. It was this year that Bob's life changed when on December 31st, he was set up on a blind date with a nursing instructor from Concordia, Sherry Peterson, whom he later married in the Mankato Methodist Church on July 18, 1971.

Married life began on a farm outside of Mankato, but not for long, as Sherry's nursing school moved to Beloit and the couple made the move too. Here, Bob started at Farmway COOP as a "grease monkey/service station attendant" and worked his way up to shop foreman in the car care center. Beloit became home and in July of 1973, their son Donald Eugene was born in Kansas City. The following year came with the purchase of their first house and in 1976, they'd purchase the one on Northwood Drive that is still the place his family calls home. With this, they hoped for more children and in January of 1977, Aaron Bryce was born in Salina and in October of 1985, they were blessed with being able to adopt 2 daughters: Mindy Beth and Hannah Ashley. Now, his family was complete.

Family life came with Bob being a hands-on father with camping/fishing at the lake, hunting, enjoying time at the state fair, Royals games, sledding in the snow, and attending the many activities his children had.

Work for Bob was laborious with tasks such as changing tires on all types of equipment, from the smallest kind to on the farm tires that stood feet taller than himself. It was these skills that sent him into the community to service equipment in the fields, keeping any type of gear up and running for harvest. He even helped during harvest times, running a combine and you always knew which tractor he was in, because he prided himself of flying an American flag beside him.

Even after working long hours at the COOP, Bob continued to help the community when he came on part-time at the Mitchell County Sherriff's department as a deputy where he was welcomed because of his knowledge of the county, a trait that lasted the rest of his life.

Bob used to joke that he "Could drive everything but an airplane," as he had a love of driving tractors, hotrods, trucks, and Harley's, even made riding in his electric scooter, as his health changed, his own, complete with that American flag still flying along.

After 30 years of service, Bob retired from both the COOP and Sherriff's office but his presence in the town continued with visiting the local gas station or grocery store every day to get his daily dose of community.  He was a stable in the town of Beloit.

Bob lived 76 good years full of family, fur-babies, and countless friends he loved. (If you're reading this, that includes you!) He never complained about the tests put before him and now he's found the freedom to ride that Harley down the highway of Heaven.

Bob leaves behind a loving legacy in his wife Sherry, sister, his children, grand and great-grandchildren, many extended family members, as well as his friends, and current greyhound fur-baby Maggie.

A come and go visitation, with family present, at the NCK Technical College Conference Center in Beloit, Thursday, June 15, 2023, from 5-7 p.m., and a graveside memorial service, 10 a.m., Friday, June 16, at the Elmwood Cemetery. (North side, near the fairgrounds)

The family wishes to send a special "Thank You" to all who have reached out, sent cards, brought food, or made even the smallest gesture. All are greatly appreciated.

We'll close with the words Robert "Bob" Snyder would: "Nothing good happens after midnight" and "Don't take any wooden nickels, they ain't worth 2 cents!"

In lieu of flowers, Bob requested memorials be made to the Mitchell County Fair Board or Mitchell County 4-H Council.