Duane Eugene Snyder of Iowa Falls passed away peacefully, with family at his side at the Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa on May 9th, 2024. He was ninety-six.

 

Duane was born on August 28th, 1927 in Iowa Falls, Iowa to Harold and Amy (Erickson) Snyder. He attended rural schoolhouses through grade school near Radcliffe and Iowa Falls, and graduated from Owasa High School in 1944. 

 

In December of that year, he enlisted in the Army, and was first stationed in Wyoming for training. He then was assigned to Korea at the end of WW II, and was discharged in 1947, when he returned to Iowa Falls.

 

After attending Iowa State University for a brief period, Duane then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was married shortly thereafter to Jean Jones of Missouri Valley, Iowa. Their first assignment was in Mississippi, and their son David was born there.

 

Duane and Jean had four children, each born in different states as Duane was assigned first to cargo air crew, then bombers, and finally ECM aircraft through his enlistment. In the twenty years before he was honorably discharged, Duane served as a radio operator on B-52 nuclear armed bombers, was part of Operation Dominic (nuclear testing in the Pacific) and Operation Looking Glass (airborne command and control of nuclear weapons). Duane, Jean, and the kids finished his final assignment in June, 1968 at Lakenheath AFB in the United Kingdom.

 

The family moved then to Iowa Falls, and Duane started operating the family farm. He continued farming until 1993. In between farm duties, Duane and Jean would travel the country visiting their children, then the grandchildren until Jean passed away in December of 2001. 

 

Duane spent the remainder of his life on the farm southeast of Iowa Falls, and visiting his children in California and Arkansas. The farm was the scene of several multi generational family reunions. Most recently in 2023, to celebrate Duane's ninety-sixth birthday, and his brother Loren's ninetieth birthday; both born on the same day, six years apart.

 

Duane's remains will be interred next to his wife of fifty-one years in Union Cemetery. There will be a memorial service in late June. 

The Linn’s Funeral Home Iowa Falls Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.

 

He was preceded in death by his wife Jean Snyder, his mother Amy Snyder, and father Harold Snyder. Also, his sister Beverly Messenger of Des Moines, and his son David Snyder of Stockton, California. 

 

He is survived by his children: Amy Schafer of Modesto, California, Alyssa Snyder of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and his son Keith Snyder of Centerton, Arkansas. 

His daughter in law, Nancy Snyder of Stockton, CA. Also his brother Loren, of Pleasant Hill, Iowa. And survived by three grandchildren; Claire, Stephanie, and Rachel, and two great-grandchildren; Helena and Westley, all in California.