Franklin "Arkie" D Snocker

A Celebration of Life Gathering for Arkie Snocker will be held Saturday, July 5, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Picnic Shelter north of football field at Bluffs Middle School in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Memorials may be made to the family to be disbursed at a later time or to the donor's choice. Fond memories may be left at www.dugankramer.com.

Franklin “Arkie” Donald Snocker was born 05-20-1950 to Charles “Charlie” Lindbergh Snocker and Joan Jean Bowen Snocker in Greeley, Colorado. He passed away on 05-24-2025 at his home in rural Mitchell, NE. He had just celebrated his 75th birthday 4 days prior. He was the oldest of three children, with William “Bill” Snocker, and Cherry Snocker completing the family.

The family lived in Colorado for a few years when the boys were young, while Charlie was getting his Masters Degree in Mathematics. They moved to Gering, NE, when the boys were still young as they did not want to raise their family in the city. They lived there until Arkie was in the 6th grade and then moved to Scottsbluff for Charlie and Jean to be closer to work. Arkie was a tried-and-true Scottsbluff Bearcat and tried to instill that pride in the students he later taught as an adult.

Arkie attended a year of college at Ozark Bible College in Joplin, Missouri, and a year at Milligan Christian College in Johnson City, Tennessee. He then attended the Junior College in Scottsbluff, now known as Western Nebraska Community College. After graduating from the Junior College, he furthered his education at Chadron State College to pursue a degree in teaching. After the firing of one of the teachers at the Lone Man school on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, another staff member/friend persuaded Arkie to finish the 2nd half of the school year there. He had many stories to tell about teaching on the ”Reservation” and cultivated many friendships with students. He did his resident teaching in Rushville, NE; then taught for one year at St. Agnes in Alliance, NE. Arkie next started his teaching career at Scottsbluff Middle School: first teaching 6th grade science for a few years before being offered a chance to move up to teach 8th grade science. He loved the students and made science very interesting for them while prioritizing getting them ready for their high school careers. He often joked about “just another boring day in science” or “God forbid we have fun at school”. We joked about him being able to get along so well with the 8th graders because sometimes he acted just like them even after retiring. He also coached 7th/8th grade football, basketball, wrestling, and distance/cross country during his teaching career. He retired from teaching in September of 2014 due to health reasons. Luckily, we had a long Fall season that year, so he was then able to work in the yard mowing and cleaning up leaves well into the first part of December. Teaching was his first love and lawn/yard work his second. We always joked about him having a “Go Button” so the yard kept him busy.

Arkie had many students who pursued careers in the medical field, as well as teaching and coaching. He was reacquainted often over the years with many of his former students at doctor appointments, during ambulance rides, and even while staying in the hospital. He was always amazed when a student would come up to him in a restaurant, Walmart, etc. and say, “Hey Mr. Snocker, do you remember me?” Then they would chat and sometimes they would remind him of a nickname he had given them. Students would tell him they loved his class because he always made it interesting and fun.

He married Gail Weckerly in Scottsbluff, NE. A son, Biff Jay Snocker, was born to this union. The couple later divorced. Arkie also has two other sons: Dakota Himmerick and Zachary Staman.

Arkie worked at the Hudson-Meng Kill Site in Dawes County, NE, with Dr. Larry Agenbroad–who was one of his Professors at Chadron State–when it was first being excavated and found one of the first spear heads. He later worked at the Hot Springs Mammoth Site for 15 summers again alongside of Dr. Larry Agenbroad and numerous other world-famous professors. The Mammoth Site was another area Arkie was very proud of being a part of; and he was able to have his oldest son, Jay, there working with him during the summer months. Arkie excavated the Mammoth named Napoleon-Bone-Apart as well as other areas of the site. He even shared his love of the site with his students by setting up bone stations in his classroom with bones ranging from very tiny animals up to the size of the mammoth bones.

After retirement and mostly during the winter months, since he could no longer mow the grass, Arkie did a lot of computer research on numerous subjects. His email group nicknamed him “Badger” since he would dig deep into whatever subject he was working on. He loved doing the research and sharing the information he found with his wide range of email friends.

Arkie was a member of the “Golden Jubilee” teams from the classes of 67/68 and they were inducted into the Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame in Lincoln, NE, in 2017 for holding four state championships in football, basketball, track and field, and cross country. At that time Scottsbluff was a Class A School and competed with the Eastern Nebraska schools. He also helped with research and was on the nominating committee for the Scottsbluff High School Athletic Hall of Fame which was organized in 2023 to recognize outstanding athletes and coaches for Scottsbluff High School

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Arkie is survived by his brother, Bill (Mary Helen), sons, Jay (Jenny) Snocker, Cody (Amanda) Himmerick, and Zach Staman. granddaughters, Danella and Phoebe Snocker; grandson Robby Himmerick; and bonus grandson Christopher Rice. His Significant Other of 25 years, Loreta Hanley. His aunt, Frances Anderson; brother-in-law, Frank Schlangen; former sister-in-law Pat Snocker; former brother-in-law, Russell Saito; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Arkie is preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Jean Snocker; and sister, Cherry Snocker Saito Schlangen.