Jill Snodgrass

JILL SNODGRASS

Cedar Rapids

Jill Snodgrass, who lived her life with joy, wonder and love, died of natural causes on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at the age of 75.

Born to Doris Gondringer and Holly Grossnicklaus of

Oceola, Neb., Jill was a loving wife to the late Larry Snodgrass, also of Oceola. They were married Aug. 8, 1959, and raised their family in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

An optimist, the wisdom, counsel, care and company Jill gave to her family and friends (or to any person she happened to meet) made her everyone's favorite "mother," guest, Pickleball partner, fellow-volunteer, field trip chaperone or lovely-person-in-line-today.

Jill was particularly devoted to her three children and, by extension, their friends. Decades later she still remembered the games that were played, the books read out loud, everyone's favorite character and how they liked their meatloaf (or if they hated it). She was the queen of both the car pool and the bleacher seats who never missed a game, event or field trip when her kids were involved.

A sports enthusiast, Jill almost singlehandedly raised national Pickleball consciousness. Because of her efforts, tennis courts all across America (well, Iowa, Arizona and Washington) are being transformed to include Pickleball regulation lines. She never missed an opportunity to introduce someone to their new favorite game as often as she could – daily.

Nothing made her heart beat like Hawkeye basketball and Husker football; she recognized athletic talent (betting at tournament time) would coach anyone through a slump (from her arm chair) and could cook a Thanksgiving dinner for 30 and give a play-by-play over pumpkin pie.

Jill loved to hike (The Grand Canyon three times!), garden and cook. She loved the theater, Iowa sweet corn, DQ Buster Bars, "Dancing with the Stars," vintage evening bags, elegant shoes and other fabulous footwear – howling at the full moon in polar fleece footsie pajamas, Bailey's Irish Cream on ice, thrift store scores, telling stories and most recently, texting.

Preceded in death by both of her parents; her husband; and sister, Mava; Jill was the loving sister to her twin brother, Jan Grossnicklaus, husband to Merla of Shelby, Neb., and brother, Rex, husband to Joyce of Columbus, Neb.; and devoted mother to Renee Day, wife to Brian Day of Gilbert, Ariz., Cheryl Snodgrass of San Francisco, Calif., and Gregg Snodgrass, husband to Michaela Murphy-Snodgrass of Seattle, Wash. Jill adored her three grandchildren, Kendall and Tyler Day and Elliott Snodgrass.

Jill was committed to helping other people by making a difference in her community. Her lifelong volunteerism included the Red Cross, Cedar Rapids public schools, St. Vincent DePaul and Downtown Free Clinic.

In keeping with Jill's commitment to her community, the family has asked in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha or to the Cedar Rapids Community Schools Foundation for Early Learning.

A celebration of life service for Jill will be held at noon Thursday, July 3, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. Following the service, the Snodgrass family invites everyone to the Snodgrass home for food, drinks and an opportunity to reminisce about Jill. Please bring your favorite Jill story to share as we celebrate Jill's great life.

Anyone out of town may send remembrances to Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home and they will be shared on your behalf.

Please leave an online condolence for the family at www.cedar memorial.com under Obituaries.