Doris Snyder

Doris Snyder, 93, of Sabetha, Kansas died in the early hours Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at the Apostolic Christian Assisted Living in Sabetha. 

Doris was born on April 20, 1931, and was placed in the loving arms of her adoptive parents, Bryan and Ida Roesch. She was a wanted and loved baby, and she was the apple of her parent’s eyes. Her family loved to travel. During their many travels, her father would sing songs off key and her mother would recite beautiful poetry. 

Doris attended kindergarten in California, and she attended grade school and middle school in western Kansas. She attended part of her high school years in Cabel, Missouri. During her senior year of high school, she attended school in Modesto, California and graduated in 1949. After graduation, Doris attended McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas for two years majoring in Literature and English. In McPherson, Doris met her future husband, Dale Snyder, and made many lifelong friends. Doris and Dale were married on June 8, 1951, after his college graduation. 

Doris and Dale made their home on a farm near Morrill, Kansas, and lived there for 57 years. Due to Doris’ failing eyesight, they moved to the Apostolic Christian Home Retirement Village in Sabetha. 

Doris leaves behind a legacy of service and love to her family, church, and community. To her family…Doris was known as an excellent seamstress, fashioning all her daughters clothing including Debbie’s wedding gown. She also shared a love for home decorating with her daughters. Doris was a fantastic cook, planted a large garden every year, was an avid grower of miniature and standard iris, and enjoyed refinishing antiques. Doris loved reading especially nonfiction, biographies, and religious publications, and she passed this love for reading onto her children.

To her church…Doris was baptized in the Church of the Brethren at the age of 12. In 1971, Doris and Dale joined the United Methodist Church in Sabetha. Doris had a servant heart and served the Lord by singing in the church choir, teaching adult Sunday school classes, chairing the Christian Education Committee, serving on the Social Outreach Committee, and serving on the Pastoral Parish Relations Committee. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women’s Group and the Liturgical Committee. 

To her community…Doris’ community service included chairman of the Cultural Arts Committee in Sabetha from 1975 to 1985, which brought various cultured events to the community including musical events, theatrical plays, and orchestras. Through the years, she helped with blood drives and voting polls. Doris was a substitute teacher at the Sabetha High School from 1973-1996. 

Doris was a survivor of breast cancer and an advocate of early detection. Throughout her life, Doris was an avid walker, and she continued to enjoy walking even as her heart was failing. After losing her sight, she kept her brain sharp by listening to her beloved recorded books. Her family was in awe of her fantastic memory and sharp mind. Doris and Dale’s favorite song was Frank Sinatra’s song, “Always.” Doris believed that the words “I’ll be loving you always,” were God’s words to all of us. She leaves a family grateful for the long life that she shared with them and a deep respect for her tenacity and ideals. Doris is deeply loved in the hearts of her family – For Always! 

Doris was preceded in death and is now reunited in heaven with her parents; daughter, Debbie Bott; brother, Lewie Williams and his wife, Shirley; brother, Royce Roesch; and granddaughter, Johna Suzanne Giesel.

Doris is survived by her loving husband of 73 years, Dale Snyder; her daughter, Terri Giesel and her husband, Jim; and her son-in-law, Lynn Bott. She will be missed by her grandchildren, Jamie Holliman and her husband, Keith; Joshua Giesel and his wife, Kristal; Mindi Kastening and her husband, Brian; and Jason Bott and his wife, Julia. Doris was also a proud great-grandmother of ten, Tanner and Mia Holliman; Brooklyn, Jett, and Nash Giesel; Lillian, Nicholas, Ericson, and Annalise Kastening; and Paisley Bott. Doris is also survived by a dear sister-in-law, Mary Roesch and an extended family of nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Popkess Mortuary Chapel in Sabetha. Prior to the service, a visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the mortuary. A private family inurnment will be held in the Sabetha Cemetery in Sabetha. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Nemaha County Home Health & Hospice and the Apostolic Christian Assisted Living, both of Sabetha, sent in care of Popkess Mortuary, 823 Virginia Street, Sabetha, Kansas 66534. 

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