Donald Snyder

Donald E. Snyder was a man of integrity. He believed that all people deserved proper respect and he treated others accordingly, as well as expecting the very same from them. He was a hard worker and had a strong attention to detail, always making sure to get a job done properly. Don had a lighter side too, gifted with a great sense of humor. He was the kind of person that people wanted to be around, and he was truly a remarkable man.

1961 was a year of firsts: President Kennedy was inaugurated, the first American astronaut launches into space, and the world was bubbling with new possibilities all over. For a couple in Kalamazoo, Michigan, all of this meant little compared to the birth of their second child, a beautiful baby boy, on September 28th of that year.

Don grew up in a close-knit household, soon his parents had a third boy and Don was right in the middle of his brothers Dan and Dennis. The three were very close and did almost everything together. Their father, Raymond, worked as a papermaker, and their mother worked as a hairstylist. The boys all had to do their part in their home, which made them all understand at an early age the value of hard work.

Martin, Michigan was a small family-oriented community, and for the Snyder’s, this couldn’t be truer. Not only were they close with their immediate family; their grandparents lived next-door to the east, and their aunts and uncles and cousins next-door to the west. They joked that they lived in “Snyderville” and the idea of family was something Don took to heart.

Don loved to play football, basketball, baseball and riding motorcycles. He and his brothers could usually be found doing one of these activities as kids. Don was a talented athlete joining teams for most of his favorite sports. He took this love with him, and after he graduated Martin High School in 1979 he went on to spend two years at Kalamazoo Valley Community College where he played baseball.

Soon, Don met a woman named Mary Salmon, they got married and had two beautiful children together, Zack and Anthony. Although he loved his children dearly, the marriage did not work out and Mary and Don got a divorce.

Just after his senior year in high school and his freshman year in college, Don worked for Plainwell Paper, this was something he found he was quite capable at, and enjoyed it as well. It was a fateful job, because it not only introduced him to his future career, he was also introduced to the woman who would become the love of his life.

April 26, 1996 was one of the best days in Don’s life. It was the day he met Gail DePauw. A friend from the mill set them up and they met in a restaurant in downtown Plainwell and immediately hit it off. Both of them were compassionate people who had a love for life. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, and the two ended up dating on a regular basis. They enjoyed each other’s company so much that they were all each of them needed. It was little surprise that they soon were engaged to be married. On November 8, 1997 they had a wonderful wedding ceremony in Otsego with a formal reception at St. Margaret’s Church. The two were so happy. They could talk to each other non-stop and simply loved to go shopping, or head out to a movie, or even go traveling! It didn’t matter what they were up to, so long as they were together.

They made a family out of themselves: Don, Gail, Zack and Anthony. They loved to spend time as a group and did all sorts of fun things. Often Don would entertain his family with goofy little stunts, it was always a special and funny thing when he did. Gail and the boys would laugh and laugh; it just tied the family together.

Don was an amazing father, staying very active in his boys’ lives even when he had to move away to Wisconsin for a job. They often went to ballgames, and just recently took a trip to Six Flags, where Don realized that he wasn’t as young as he used to be! Often Don would drive 460 miles on a Friday evening, so he could see Zack’s football games. He’d stay with them until Sunday and drive all the way back to his home. The boys were Don’s pride and joy, he loved them so very much, and it was hard to be away from them.

Don’s job was very important to him, he was a hard worker and earned the superintendent position at the PCA Mill in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. He had a keen attention to detail and always got his work done, which he also expected out of other people. He was a very understanding boss, and always made people feel important. He always made time to say hello to the janitor who worked at the paper mill, which made the janitor feel like the president of the company!

Don’s sense of humor made working with him a breeze. His workers enjoyed coming in each day because they simply had a good time there! Sure it was work, but with Don there, things were different, more easy-going. He respected a person, which, these days, is something you don’t see much of, but Don was special.

When he wasn’t working, Don enjoyed drag racing, snowmobiling, collecting die-cast funny cars, and never lost his love for sports. He was a loyal University of Michigan fan, as well as the Detroit Red Wings. He enjoyed the simple things in life.

Don died July 29, 2008.

Don was a man who could get the most out of life, and loved to share it with everyone he knew. He held a deep respect and love for his family, especially his wife and boys. Don was a great man who touched many people’s lives, and could never be replaced.

His family members include his wife Gail Snyder of Merrill,WI; 2 sons Zack Snyder and Anthony Snyder of Grand Haven; 2 brothers Dan & Debbie Snyder of Wayland; Dennis Snyder of Atlanta, Georgia; his former wife Mary (Barry) Chittenden of Grand Haven, Michigan, and his parents Raymond and Carolyn (Bryant) Snyder.

Friends may visit with Don’s family on Monday from 4-7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell Chapel, 120 S. Woodhams. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the same location. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Orangeville.

Please visit Don’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory, sign the online guest book or make a memorial donation to the family, for his children.