Dr. KENNETH DWAYNE SNELL, age 65, of Rochester Hills, died Monday, September 7, 2020. He was born on September 13, 1954, in Kadoka, South Dakota. He is survived by his wife Marianne of 45 years; children Erik (Dani) Snell, Kevin (Chelsea) Snell, Heidi (Mike) Whitney, Timothy Snell, and Philip Snell; grandchildren Lorelai Snell, Luke Snell, Shaylee Snell, Alyssa Snell, Caleb Judge, Gabriel Whitney, Elijah Whitney, Malachi Whitney, Amaris Whitney, Moriah Whitney, and baby Whitney arriving in October. Kenneth is also survived by his mother Wilma (Jim) Schuyler; brothers and sisters Larry (Gayle) Snell, Myrna (Warren) Tieberg, Norman Snell, and Sue (Glenn) Henricks. Preceded in death by his father Hugh Snell and sister Cheryl Schuyler. Kenneth earned a Bachelor and Doctorate Degree from the University of Miami. He began his career working in Chemical Research at BASF while becoming involved with city government. Kenneth served on the very first Rochester Hills City Council in 1984. For ten years he worked tirelessly as a Council Member including several years as Council President. He served as Mayor of Rochester Hills from 1995 to 1999, and helped to usher and guide the young city’s growth. A true dedicated public servant, Kenneth poured his energy and love for his community into local organizations as well as worked with county and state governments to better ensure the well-being of Rochester Hills. He was active in the community as a former member of the Rochester Rotary Club and Reading for the Blind. He was also a founding member of the Heatherwood Village Homeowner’s Association. Of his many accomplishments as Mayor, Kenneth was proud to originate the 1999 Festival of the Hills Fireworks show still held annually at Borden Park. A man of strong faith, he was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Rochester. He was also a talented trumpeter and shared his love for music by playing at church services, funerals, and ceremonies. For the past thirteen years, Kenneth was a Data Migration Specialist working with Syniti/Back Office Associates which provided him the opportunity to journey all around the world. Because of his unwavering faith and acceptance of Jesus Christ, he is now in his Heavenly home. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2020, at First Baptist Church of Rochester, 6377 Orion Road, Rochester Hills, with Pastor Mark Cizauskas officiating. Internment will be at Van Hoosen Jones-Stoney Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church of Rochester on Friday, September 11, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Kenneth’s name to the First Baptist Church of Rochester Global Missions Fund.
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
I Thessalonians 4:13-15
