Robert Emanuel Snavely

Robert Emanuel Snavely the son of Harold DeVere Snavely and Pauline Ludmila (Kraska) Snavely was born July 29, 1931 in Pocahontas, IA.  Bob the oldest of three siblings played football and graduated from Pocahontas High School in 1949. Shortly after he started his secondary education at A.I.B. in Des Moines, IA. 

In 1951 he enlisted and proudly served in the United States Air Force. Later in life Bob was nominated for the Honor Flight, May 23, 2013, with his Co Pilot in life, wife Evelyn who served as his escort.

 After serving his country he continued his education at Iowa State University.  Bob spent many fall Saturdays cheering on his beloved Cyclones.

In 1951 his life would change forever after attending the movie White Christmas on a date. He then married Evelyn Hanish on June 1, 1955, in Laurens IA, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  Together they were blessed with seven children, including a set of twins.

Bob began work for the city of Pocahontas as a lineman and apprenticed as a City Manager in Manchester.  He went on to become City Managers for Guttenberg, West Liberty and Tipton, IA. He received countless awards for his work and dedication including recognition by the State of Iowa.  He retired from Tipton as the City Manager in 1993.

Other than his family one of Bob’s proudest accomplishments was becoming deaconized in the Catholic Church in 1979 in the Davenport Dioceses.  Afterward he served several local churches as a deacon.  He was blessed to officiate the marriage of his daughters Ruth and Diann and performed the baptisms of his grandchildren, Jared, Micheal, Joshua, Nicholas, and Haley.  He continued to serve his community through the church, Hospice, Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, The American Legion and Rotary.  He had achieved Fourth Degree Knighthood in the Knights of Columbus; his life was full of service to his country and community.

Bob enjoyed studying the Genealogy of Evelyn’s family as well as his own.  He taught many Genealogy classes in his lifetime. He compiled a rich and colorful history of the family trees, spending countless hours with family and extended family collecting stories, photos and documents.  Not to mention if you had a ten-minute conversation with Bob seven of those minutes would be on the topic Genealogy. Let’s just say he was a lifelong genealogist.

Despite challenges later in life he never lost his quick wit, love for a good joke or his contagious laugh. He was always up for spending time with family and friends that was what he loved most.   

When you have a personality like Bob’s it’s easy to accumulate friends, which he did up until the end including at his last residence Manor Care in Dubuque, Iowa. His love of life was felt by all those who were around him. Bob will be missed by all but no more then by Evelyn and his family.

Bob Snavely passed away on January 6, 2019 after succumbing to complications from Parkinson’s Disease.  He is survived by his wife Evelyn (Hanish) of 63 years. His son Mark (Susan Slight) of   Fort Worth, TX, five daughters; Barbara (Brian Harris) Conner of Tiffin, IA, Janet (Rick) Gustafson of Lisle, IL, Diann (Bruce) Thomas of Westmont, IL, Ruth Proctor of Des Moines, IA, Linda (Michael) Romans of Bettendorf, IA, 15 Grandchildren: Christopher Snavely, Brittany (Greg) Snavely Krause, Stuart Hood, Ellen (Brian) Winekauf Voyles, Jacquelyn (Brian) Conner Walters, Jared (Shelly Chapman) Gustafson, Micheal Gustafson, Warren Thomas, Ian Thomas, Victoria Thomas, Joshua Proctor, Haley Proctor, Daniel Romans, Nathan Romans, 5 great grandchildren, a sister Loretta Graham as well as many nieces and nephews. 

Those that passed before Bob were his parents; Harold and Pauline Snavely; his daughter Mariann Snavely, his grandson Nicholas Proctor and his brother Arthur Snavely.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday January 9, 2019, at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton, IA with a rosary service at 3:30 pm followed by visitation from 4:00-7:00 pm. The following day, Thursday, January 10, there will be a Catholic service, to include Mass, at 10:00 am at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Tipton, IA. There will be a luncheon at Saint Mary’s hall following.  On Friday, January 11, 2019 there will be a visitation at Powers Funeral Home in Pocahontas, IA from 11:00 – 12:00 am followed by a graveside service at 1:00 pm with full military honors at Calvary Cemetery, Pocahontas. All are invited to a time of light refreshments at Resurrection of Our Lord Hall following the burial.

A memorial fund has been established in Bob’s memory and you may share your online condolences at www.fryfuneralhome.com or www.powersfh.net.  

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