Duane Eldon Snavely

Duane Eldon Snavely

Ionia, Michigan

Duane Eldon Snavely, 96, formerly of Freeport, MI passed away on February 18, 2019.

He was born on December 8, 1922, the youngest child of Ira Calvert and Virginia May Wine Snavely near Wauneta, Nebraska. His father was a minister in the Church of the Brethren, and the family lived in Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri, Indiana and Michigan. Duane graduated from Royerton High School (IN) in 1940. He had an agricultural exemption to the draft and farmed during the war. He moved with his parents to a farm near Kalamo, Michigan and later to their farm on Irish Road in Sunfield Township in 1948. He married Joyce Elaine Hoover on October 4, 1952; Elaine Louise was born in 1954 and Cheryl Diane in 1958. Duane still loved farming, but their dairy herd was lost to Bang's disease and Duane went to work at E. W. Bliss in Hastings building machine presses for 25 years. Duane and Joyce moved to Carlton Center in 1988 and lived there until they moved to Green Acres near Ionia last spring. After retirement, he worked summers at the cemeteries of Sunfield Township for several years.

He enjoyed gardening, watching the Detroit Tigers, Hartzler bus trips, Scrabble and word search puzzles, talking to people, playing piano for the Sunfield Church of the Brethren, and singing the old hymns of his childhood.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Dale, Bernice (Galen) Barkdoll, Greta, Gladys (Carl) Welch, and Lyle (Christeen).

He is survived by Joyce, his wife of 66 years, daughters Elaine (Dan) Wells, and Cheryl (Tim) Allen, granddaughters Elizabeth (Darrel) DuBois and Katherine (Andrew) Haff, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 26, one hour prior to the service at 11 a.m. at the Hope Church of the Brethren, 14275 92nd St, Freeport.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heifer International, https://fundraise.heifer.org/DuaneSnavely or 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202.  His family has supported Heifer International since its beginnings, including helping to send heifers to Europe after WWII.

Please visit a special page created for Duane to leave a condolence for the family:  www.RosierFuneralHome.com The family has entrusted the arrangements to the Independent Family Owned Funeral Home in Sunfield:  Rosier Funeral Home.

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