Munster, IN. Russell Allen Snyder, 94, passed away on May 5, 2022. He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia (nee Rasmussen), his son, David Snyder of Milwaukee, and his daughters, Susan MiHalo (Mark) of Ogden Dunes and Christine Cangiano (William) of Dyer. He is also survived by his grandchildren Matthew Mihalo, Natalie Cangiano andContinue Reading
Munster, IN. Russell Allen Snyder, 94, passed away on May 5, 2022. He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia (nee Rasmussen), his son, David Snyder of Milwaukee, and his daughters, Susan MiHalo (Mark) of Ogden Dunes and Christine Cangiano (William) of Dyer. He is also survived by his grandchildren Matthew Mihalo, Natalie Cangiano and Samuel Cangiano, as well as his sister, Nancy Schell, of Naples, FL, nieces Amy and Beth and nephew, Gary; and many dear family and friends.
Russ and Pat were married for nearly 66 years after meeting in front of Trinity Methodist Church in 1955 in Chicago and socializing with friends in the Indiana Dunes. Born in Cleveland on January 28, 1928, to Francis (Frank) and Myrtle Snyder (nee Adams), he briefly lived in Gary, IN, and grew up in Chicago’s Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood.
He graduated from Morgan Park High School in 1946 and South Dakota State University in 1950 with a degree in Civil Engineering. While at SDSU, he became a member of the first-ever Advanced Air Force ROTC Class and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserves two weeks prior to the beginning of the Korean War. During active duty, he was a supply officer and air installation officer, and then held the title of Real Property Accountable Officer, fueling his future interest in commercial real estate.
After his discharge, he eventually returned to Chicago and worked for U.S. Steel for 29 years in various capacities, ending as a plant systems general supervisor. At U.S. Steel Gary Works, he led a team that installed a groundbreaking electronic order entry and production record-keeping system as well as early computerized simulations of steel-making operations.
After retiring from U.S. Steel in 1983, Russ did independent steel-making and other consulting assignments, eventually leading him to a long career in commercial real estate. Russ officially retired in 2017 at the age of 89 only because his increasing hearing loss interfered with his ability to conduct business.
He had a love for people and an unmatched curiosity about the world around him. For many years, he daily frequented trails and sidewalks in the area and annually walked every street in Munster. He was also an early advocate for bike and walking trails in Munster while serving on the Town Council and Park Board and he served for many years as the town’s representative to the Hammond Sanitary District. Regionally, he was an early member of the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission as well as the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission.
Russ is a legend in Munster’s Lions Club and was a member for more than 65 years. He was also involved in the Munster Chamber of Commerce, Munster Historical Society, Boy Scout Troop 550, the Integrated Service Delivery Board, Theater at the Center, United Way and the Munster Republican Central Committee. He also served on the Board of Directors of Community Hospital. Russ was also an early and active member of the Ridge United Methodist Church. He had a love for trees and enjoyed planting them at the church and also made sure certain trees were saved when the Town Hall was built.
He was never too busy, however, to overlook traveling to 48 states and Canada with Pat and/or the family, towing a pop-up camper well into their 80’s. Gardening, rock-hounding, and genealogy also occupied any spare time he might have had, along with watching Chicago sports teams.
In 2016, in recognition of his accomplishments, he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Pence – Indiana’s highest honor.
Happy Trails, Dad, you will be missed!
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 14 at Ridge United Methodist Church, 8607 Columbia Ave., Munster, IN. Visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m., service at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall.
Memorial donations may be made to Ridge United Methodist Church or the Rails to Trails Conservancy, https://www.railstotrails.org/support-us/memorial-contribution/ to honor his memory and passion for life.
To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Russell A. Snyder, please visit our Tribute Store.
Jill Kohnen McLemore
left a message on May 14, 2022:
I have such joyous memories of Russ and his family coming to Colorado for camping trips and stopping to see our family because our mother is his cousin. He, Pat and the kids were always very happy and brought lots of laughter during the visits. Russ exuded happiness!! His was a life to celebrate!
Ian Brogan
left a message on May 13, 2022:
I’m terribly sorry for your loss. I’m most certain they are in a better place now.
Silvia E. Cangiano
left a message on May 11, 2022:
What a wonderful life he had! I wish I could have gotten to know him better ??
Silvia E. Cangiano
left a message on May 11, 2022:
What a wonderful life he had! I wish I could have gotten to know him better ??
Silvia E. Cangiano
left a message on May 11, 2022:
What a wonderful life he had! I wish I could have gotten to know him better ??
Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.
Lion Joy Robinson
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Russ and I worked together on the Integrated Services Delivery board in addition to our Lion's connection.
We also shared a love of travel and he greatly enjoyed my scrapbooks from my trip to Antarctica.
He will be missed
Lion Joy Robinson
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Russ and I worked together on the Integrated Services Delivery board in addition to our Lion's connection.
We also shared a love of travel and he greatly enjoyed my scrapbooks from my trip to Antarctica.
He will be missed
Lion Joy Robinson
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Russ and I worked together on the Integrated Services Delivery board in addition to our Lion's connection.
We also shared a love of travel and he greatly enjoyed my scrapbooks from my trip to Antarctica.
He will be missed
Debbie Hines
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Russ was a really nice guy. RIP
Tom Allen
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Russ Is a spot on person for as long as I or my dad always said. He and my father were colleagues in the Town of Munster affairs thru out forty or more years, Planning Commission and other Muster stuff while every one ran as independents, before party politics.
Russ has amazed all the Lions with his ongoing persistence and diligence. He inspired our Club with his continued dedication. Certainly a man worth his salt in all he did.Never anything but a kind word, a man who rarely if ever complained. He set a example which few will match.
Maybe we will meet again in our after life, A friend
George Shinkan
left a message on May 11, 2022:
My condolences to the family. Sorry I could not attend the wake and funeral due to my daughters college graduation that day. Russ meant a lot to me as well as being a great mentor in The Lions Club. God Bless Russ and his family and memory eternal.
Ann Clapman
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Dear Pat and family, I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Russ. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.
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Jill Kohnen McLemore
left a message on May 14, 2022:
I have such joyous memories of Russ and his family coming to Colorado for camping trips and stopping to see our family because our mother is his cousin. He, Pat and the kids were always very happy and brought lots of laughter during the visits. Russ exuded happiness!! His was a life to celebrate!
Ian Brogan
left a message on May 13, 2022:
I’m terribly sorry for your loss. I’m most certain they are in a better place now.
Silvia E. Cangiano
left a message on May 11, 2022:
What a wonderful life he had! I wish I could have gotten to know him better ??
Silvia E. Cangiano
left a message on May 11, 2022:
What a wonderful life he had! I wish I could have gotten to know him better ??
Silvia E. Cangiano
left a message on May 11, 2022:
What a wonderful life he had! I wish I could have gotten to know him better ??
Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.
Lion Joy Robinson
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Russ and I worked together on the Integrated Services Delivery board in addition to our Lion's connection.
We also shared a love of travel and he greatly enjoyed my scrapbooks from my trip to Antarctica.
He will be missed
Lion Joy Robinson
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Russ and I worked together on the Integrated Services Delivery board in addition to our Lion's connection.
We also shared a love of travel and he greatly enjoyed my scrapbooks from my trip to Antarctica.
He will be missed
Lion Joy Robinson
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Russ and I worked together on the Integrated Services Delivery board in addition to our Lion's connection.
We also shared a love of travel and he greatly enjoyed my scrapbooks from my trip to Antarctica.
He will be missed
Debbie Hines
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Russ was a really nice guy. RIP
Tom Allen
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Russ Is a spot on person for as long as I or my dad always said. He and my father were colleagues in the Town of Munster affairs thru out forty or more years, Planning Commission and other Muster stuff while every one ran as independents, before party politics.
Russ has amazed all the Lions with his ongoing persistence and diligence. He inspired our Club with his continued dedication. Certainly a man worth his salt in all he did.Never anything but a kind word, a man who rarely if ever complained. He set a example which few will match.
Maybe we will meet again in our after life, A friend
George Shinkan
left a message on May 11, 2022:
My condolences to the family. Sorry I could not attend the wake and funeral due to my daughters college graduation that day. Russ meant a lot to me as well as being a great mentor in The Lions Club. God Bless Russ and his family and memory eternal.
Ann Clapman
left a message on May 11, 2022:
Dear Pat and family, I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Russ. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.
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