John L. Snyder Sr.

Johnnie Leon “Duke” Snyder of Canon City, Colorado passed away on 2 June 2022, after a short illness.

Duke was born in Elkton, Colorado on 5 November 1933, to Albert and Cora Mae (Acton) Snyder as the 5th of eight children. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Carol; parents; siblings, Albert (Florence Lannigan), Alta Herrin (Edward) Woodard, Virginia (Tom) Kissell, Dorothy (Duane) Miles, Alberta “Peggy” (Bill) Lennox, Wesley (Jackie Silver), and Ivan (Peggy Strobel). 

At age 11 Duke and his family moved from Elkton to Coal Creek. He finished the 8th grade and began driving a milk truck and worked in the gardens of Florence. He also did some work in the coal mines before joining the Marines.

He was a very proud Marine and Veteran of the Korean War. Once he returned to Colorado from fighting, he married Doris Ann Ziegler who had so faithfully waited for him to return to her.  They married in 1954 in Raton, New Mexico. They had two children John L Jr. (Mary Beth Cargo) and Carol (Allyn) Middlekamp; four grandchildren, Jeff and Wesley, and Michelle and Rebecca; and great-grandchildren, Amber, Stephanie, Jadyn, and Evan. 

Duke made a good life for himself and his family in Pueblo, Colorado working at CF&I as a pipe fitter before retiring in 1991. He enjoyed playing softball on the CF&I Pipe Shop Team, hunting and fishing, especially with his son, John, and his brother-in-law, Bill Lennox, and his son, Billy.  He also enjoyed bowling and camping with his family and doing dress-up with his great-granddaughters, Amber and Stephanie.  He had an uncanny ability to put any screaming baby to sleep in a very short while. He was beloved by all his nieces and nephews, and anyone who came in contact with him. He will be missed.

Per his request, there will be no Memorial Service.

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