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Roy Snell
ROY EUGENE SNELL
Cedar Rapids
Roy Eugene Snell, 82, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, at his home. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories Stateroom. Private family burial Thursday, Aug. 25, at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Roy was born July 14, 1934, in Butler, Mo., to Roy M. and Marie (McDaniel) Snell. He was united in marriage to Helen Marie Cook on June 10, 1956, in Monticello, Ill. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in education from Illinois State University in 1956. After graduation, he was granted a faculty assistantship in the industrial arts department. In January 1957, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he was trained in electronics systems and analysis. After two years in the Army, he worked for the company working on the Nike Zeus missile system, where he was in charge of writing the technical instructions for maintenance. In 1962, he began working for Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, where he eventually became manager of government avionics training. In that role, he enjoyed working with customers from all over the world.
Roy was active in the community as a PTA president, president of the Washington Wrestling Booster Club, and with the Boy Scouts of America. He and Helen rarely missed their kids' sports and events. He was very detail-oriented in everything he did. Among many projects he built a family room addition that was featured in Popular Science Magazine in 1976.
After a 35-year career at Rockwell Collins, he retired. He then enjoyed traveling, especially where the grandchildren resided. He was a big kid when it came to the grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking and golfing in his free time.
Roy is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Helen; their children, Jeff (Teri) Snell of North Liberty, Judd (Jill) Snell of Chanhassen, Minn., and Judith Buchert of Cold Spring, Ky.; eight grandchildren, Jacob, Joshua, Isis, Matthew, Katti, Heidi, Bo and Brooke; three great-grandchildren; and brothers, Harvey and Kenneth Snell.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Donald; a baby sister; and two sisters-in-law.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Above and Beyond Hospice in Monticello.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com under "obituaries."
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