Cleone Snitker
Cleone Arvin Snitker, 84, of Postville passed away Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at WinnMed in Decorah. Funeral Service was held Monday, November 25 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, with Rev. Lynn Noel as the officiant. Inurnment followed in the Postville Cemetery, Postville.
Cleone Arvin was born June 19, 1940 to Willard and Esther (Kruger) Snitker on a farm near Frankville. He was baptized August 18, 1940 at Salem Reformed Church and confirmed December 20, 1953 at the Community Presbyterian Church.
Cleone started working for local farmers when he was 12 years old and in high school Cleone worked at the filling station. He attended and graduated from Postville High School with the class of 1958.
October 26, 1963, Cleone was united in marriage with Kathrine A. Schmidt at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Postville. Three children were born to this union. Cleone worked at Hygrade Foods as a meat cutter for 20 years. After Hygrade closed, he hauled milk in Waukon for over 20 years, and then would substitute drive when needed.
Cleone was known for being an incredible, hardworking man and a perfectionist in all he did. He was a self-taught woodworker and an expert gardener, growing over 60 gardens through the years. He enjoyed eating out, traveling, fishing, and attending family events. His favorite was anything chocolate. Cleone was a volunteer for RSVP and a man with a quiet nature and a very soft heart for all.
Surviving Cleone are his wife, Kathrine Snitker of Postville; his children, Colleen (Richard) Walvatne of Waverly, Kara (Darrell) Winger of Bakersfield, CA and Kirby (Linda) Snitker of Dubuque; six grandchildren, Madison (Austin) Durscher of Shell Rock, Alexander Winger of Henderson, NV, Zachary Winger of Henderson, NV, Paige Snitker of New York, NY, Rachel Walvatne (fiancé, Kyler Murdock) of Denver, and Reed Snitker of Grand Rapids, MI; two great-grandchildren, Theodore Durscher and Calvin Durscher, both of Shell Rock; his sisters, Loretta Backhaus and Cheryl Thornton, both of Sherwood, AR; his sister-in-law, Renee (John) Bernath of Long Beach, CA; his nieces and nephews, Jackie Peterson, Tina Klahn, Lori Backhaus, Brenda Kerr, Andrea Eliassen, and Ryan Bernath; and numerous cousins.
Cleone was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Esther Snitker; his mother-in-law, LaVila Schmidt; his brothers-in-law, Jack Backhaus and Curtis Thornton; and one niece, Connie Thornton.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Postville assisted the family with services.
