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Kenneth Rae Snyder (70) formerly of Paxton, NE, lost his eleven year battle with prostate cancer on December 12, 2007. He was born March 1, 1937 in Shelton, NE to Don and Colleen (Dubbs) Snyder. He graduated from Shelton High School in 1954. As a youngster, he delivered the Grand Island Independent for several years and worked at Conroy’s grocery store all through high school.

After graduation, he attended Omaha School of Commerce to learn telegraphy. He was hired by Union Pacific as a telegraph operator before he turned eighteen. He worked extra board jobs between North Platte and Cheyenne. During the summers of 1959, 60, and 61, he lived in Chicago and escorted tours to the west coast and Canada for Union Pacific.

In October of 1961 he took a job as telegraph operator at Kimball, NE. That is where he met his future wife, Louise Lammers. They were married June 5, 1962 at the Kimball Methodist Church.

The following year, he was promoted to train dispatcher and worked the extra board at Denver, Cheyenne, and North Platte. In October of 1965, he transferred to Denver as a train dispatcher. The family lived in Denver for four years and the Denver dispatchers’ office was moved to Cheyenne. The family lived in Cheyenne for six years.

In May of 1976 Kenneth quit his railroad job and the family moved to the farm south of Paxton, when his father-in-law Edwin Lammers retired. Kenneth raised dry land corn, wheat, and sheep. Ken and Louise had a small painting and wall papering business and raised vegetables for the North Platte Farmers’ Market for several years. After retiring from farming, he and Louise went to work for Brent Gries at Windy Gap in Paxton. It was Kenneth’s favorite job as he loved visiting with the customers and thinking up different menus for the noon special.

In June of 2004, Kenneth and Louise moved to Fishers, Indiana to be close to medical facilities for his health and also to be closer to their daughter and family.

Ken loved to fish, weld, woodwork, and spend time with his children and grandchildren. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and will be missed by all who knew him. He had a wonderful sense of humor and treated everyone the way he would want to be treated.

He is survived by his wife "Weezy," mother Colleen Snyder of Omaha, daughters Sherri (Tim) Thienel of Wood River, NE and Kelly (Richard) Freeman of Carmel, IN and son David of Omaha. Grandchildren Jessica, Nicole, and Samantha Thienel and Melissa, Cameron, and Colin Freeman. Sister Arlene (Mike) Kwasnick of South Elgin IL and brother Jerry (Sue) Snyder of Omaha and two nephews and two nieces.

He was proceeded in death by his father Don Snyder and his grandson Conner Freeman.

A memorial has been established to the Paxton Volunteer Fire Department and the Paxton Legion 40 and 8 Scholarship.

Visitation will be Friday, December 21^st from 9 am until 6 pm at Gubser Funeral Home in Ogallala. The funeral will be Saturday, December 22^nd at 10 am at the Paxton Methodist Church with Pastor Harun Gatobu officiating. Burial will be in the Paxton Cemetery.