Kenny lived next to my Aunt Pauline and down the street from my grandmother and sister in Holtville, California.  He grew up playing with Alice's daughters Bonnie and Laura Carley.  Every Easter my Mom Gail and Grandma Alice hosted an Easter Egg hunt at Alice's house and Kenny and our kids would all hunt eggs together and then have lots of goodies. Kenny also went to First Christian Church with us which was a very important part of all our lives.  Mrs Snyder was a good friend. And a wonderful Christian woman who raised Kenny to be a fine Christian man.  I followed his life as much as I could and was sadden when his daughter died and now so sad to hear he has been I'll and passed to Heaven.  My preacher said one Sunday that for those in Christ, it is only an instant til they are reunited with loved ones they have left behind because the r is no time limits in Heaven.  We are the ones who must wait and be sorrowful.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and take heart from these wonderful messages I see here as Kenny was most loved and respected as a family man.  You were blessed and I am sorry you have to be away from him for now.
Barbara Bisgaard Fusi




Part 2.Besides improvements to our facilities I would periodically tell people how Kenny and Dr. Bob were credited for establishing Diet Coke in Mexico.  They started out bringing Diet Coke from Yuma to Bonfil.  Then they convinced the store down the road to start carrying the product.  The next thing we know you could order Coca Light in some of the restaurants.  

Loyalty was at the heart of Kenny’s character.  He never once waivered on his support of his family, fellow employees, friends or people he admired.  A few years back I mentioned that I was invited to the Sonoma Raceway for some big car race.  It was then that I found out he was a big fan of Robbie Gordon.  Robbie Gordon was past his prime but that didn’t stop Kenny from supporting him.  As a matter of fact, Kenny told me that he had purchased some Robbie Gordon discounted sports items because he was going to make a comeback.

There wasn’t anything more important to Kenny than his family.  I found out the very first time I went to Mexico and when we returned I was invited to his home for dinner.  Worked stopped and it was family time.  He wanted to know how Annie’s day went.  As well, he asked the children how their day went.  On my subsequent visits to Mexico we would go out to a local restaurant like Applebee’s and visit.  This is what a family is all about.  Of course I will always remember the tic tac toe games that their oldest son, Robert and I used to play before dinner.  Even after I stopped going to Mexico so often Kenny and I would periodically touch base.  His first comments were always about his family:  Annie and her vocation, the family’s involvement with local plays, places they were going.   

In spite of all of life’s challenges, Kenny demonstrated a character that we don’t find very often, to steady the course in family values, unwavering support for all persons and commitment to a better society.  Knowing Annie I believe Kenny’s passing will only pause those efforts.   

 

Part 1. When NewStar merged with Fresh Choice back in the late 90’s, I had a chance to meet Kenny Snyder as he handled all the quality control for the asparagus division of Lee Brands.  His reputation and character was unwavering from the beginning until his passing.  Growers from Imperial Valley to Mexico to Peru along with fellow employees and friends, saw a person so innovative, dedicated, loyal, determined and always a balance between work and family.  

Later on Kenny worked with NewStar in developing the green onion program.  Before long he had turned an old run-down shed into a decent operating facility.  He didn’t stop there.  Each year he would turn in a capital budget about 3 times higher than NewStar’s entire budget.  When I would question the number he would just give me that smile.  Speaking of budgets, I remember Kenny and Alex Tamayo going out to the desert during budget time, taking their computers, an RV, motorbikes and of course their boys as they cranked out the EN budget.  They would always return with a first-class budget.

When Dr. Bob Whitaker joined us, he and Kenny were quite a combination with similar work ethics and a determination for food safety and continuous improvement.  I remember one of Dr. Bob’s first visits to the Bonfil shed.  He didn’t like the Bobcat vehicle driving across the floor delivering ice to the water chillers.  I wasn’t sure how Kenny was going to respond.  On Dr. Bob’s next visit, there was the Bobcat with a sign labeled “Dr. Bob Cat” and of course Kenny’s signature smile. 

 Kenny and Dr. Bob went on to make a number of improvements to our iceless green onion program.  We stopped cutting the tops to the onions in the field which required washing the onions but in order to dry the onions they found some high powered dryers used in the olive industry to do that task.  Kenny also located an Italian  machine to bag the iceless onions.  Later Kenny designed an innovative water chiller that was the 1st of its kind.

Annie, I was saddened and grieved to recently learn of your husband's death.

I pray God has and will continue to give you and your children His loving comfort.

My heart weeps for you.

My most deepest condolences to the Snyder Family 
RIP Kenny.  

I had the genuine pleasure to work with Kenny back in the 90's and early 2000's.  He was an unfailingly nice guy, such a decent man, easy going but disciplined and determined, someone who set the bar high for himself and all of us that had the pleasure to know him.  He had a great sense of humor, worked so hard and loved his Ana and family so very much.  Please accept my deepest condolences for your sad sad loss - Rest in peace Kenny and God bless his family and friends in this difficult time. 

Kenny was a friend, college roomate, business associate and a great guy. He will be missed by all those that knew him.
RIP Kenny

OBITUARY

Kenneth Ray Snyder

August 20, 1961 – February 22, 2018

Johnson Mortuary & Desert Lawn Memorial Park

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