Obituary of Donald Snavely

REVEREND DONALD LEO SNAVELY STERLING - Rev. Donald Leo Snavely, 83, died Thursday, December 15, 2011 at CGH Medical Center. Donald was born September 30, 1928 in Sterling, the son of Leo D. and Dessie M. (Cobb) Snavely. He married Mary E. Peaslee on July 28, 1951 in Oak Park. Donald graduated from Sterling High School in 1946. He then attended University of Illinois, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelors. Donald attended the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and graduated in 1963 with a Master of Divinity Degree. His first ministry was in Nederland, CO at the Community Presbyterian Church for 10 years. Donald was the Executive Director of Rock Falls Community Action. He restarted the "Feed the Children Program" at Dillon School. He also started Golden Wheels, Golden Meals, Rock n' Tots and Clothing Thrift Center. Donald was the Director of Volunteers with Heifer Project International and in 1987, he accompanied a shipment of HPI 98 bred heifers to Uganda. Following his retirement in 1993, Donald served as a disaster response volunteer at many sights. Donald was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Sterling. Donald served in the Army during the Korean War. Survivors include his wife, Mary; four daughters, Marilyn (Fred) Yates, of Arvada, CO, Karen (Don) Yandell, of Natural Dam, AR, Phyllis J. Sparks, of Nederland, CO and Janice (Mike) Lawrence, of Windsor, CO; three sons, Daniel (Dorothy) Snavely, of Port Ewen, NY, John (Jennifer) Snavely, of Roseville, CA and Mark (Sandra) Snavely, of La Farge, WI; nineteen grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Mary Bane. Services will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, December 17, 2011 at First Presbyterian Church with Reverend Christina Berry, officiating. Burial will be at the Science Ridge Mennonite Cemetery, Sterling. Visitation will be from 1-2 pm, Saturday, at the Church, prior to services. A memorial has been established to the Heifer Project International and First Presbyterian Church. Condolences may be sent to www.schillingfuneralhome.com.