Jerry Eugene Snyder

JERRY EUGENE SNYDER, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017 at Canterbury Nursing Home surrounded by his family. Jerry loved many things, Notre Dame Football, Golf, his wife Amaryllis of 62 years, his four children, Tammy (Dennis), Steven (Cindy), Stephanie (Brian), and Christopher; his grandchildren, Dustin (Kylie), Daisha, Corey (Elena), Austin, Jeisson, Erika, and Egiber. Great grandchildren Ty, Emersyn, Kipton, Devon, and Blake. There were two things he never missed, Notre Dame football on Saturday and church on Sunday, which worked out well because Saturdays were usually filled with long tirades because he really really loved Notre Dame. And Sundays at church were to ask for forgiveness. He had two pieces of jewelry he wore without fail: his wedding ring and St. Christopher medal. He met the love of his life Amaryllis at McMillen Park in high school. She remembers he kept teasing her and she thought he was horrible because he hadn't shaved, and dunked her repeatedly in the pool, (a ritual he carried on for years whenever they were in the same pool together). He remembers it as he swept her off her feet and she never had a chance. The family is pretty sure the truth is somewhere in the middle. He had many long-lasting friendships that started out as childhood friends. His loyalty to those that loved him was unwavering. He was known as "Big Jer", tough as nails on the outside, but was also known to cry easily at the very least twice a year during the movie Brian's Song as well as The Jerry Lewis Telethon. He also cried during weddings, funerals, the death of family pets, or anything to do with his children or grandchildren, or on occasion during the Notre Dame fight song. He was old school and believed fathers worked, while mothers stayed home to raise the children. He worked two or three jobs for many years, and operated on very little sleep but somehow never missed a teacher's meeting or high school sporting event. It was well known by his co-workers he would trade shifts or take additional shifts just so he could get Friday nights off to watch his sons play football. He had a quick Irish temper which was inherited by all his children, and always made for entertaining holidays, but when it came to important life events, he was the one that remained calm "and was our rock". He was known to tell his children on a whim how proud he was of every single one of them. It was never after a big occasion or accomplishment but just because. His family will miss his larger than life personality, his love for sports, and faith, his rugged good looks, his strength, but most of all will miss how much he loved them. "PS - Dad please have a talk with Touchdown Jesus and ask him to fix Notre Dame". He was preceded in death by his mother, Betty Zigler, and brother, Dan Snyder. Funeral is 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 at Klaehn Fahl & Melton Funeral Home, 420 W. Wayne Street, Fort Wayne (IN 46802) with calling starting at 11 a.m.