J. Clare Snider

J. “Clare” Snider was born August 17, 1926 in New Dundee, Ontario, the son of Omar and Maylinda (Hallman) Snider.  He died in his home on December 16, 2023 at 97 years of age. He was preceded in death by his wife Beulah (Hartman) whom he married June 29, 1958. He is survived by his three children, Anita Snider (Lima, Ohio), Kelvin Snider Mechanicsburg, Ohio), and Twila (Brad) Maust (Grantsville, Maryland); his two siblings, James (Dianne) Snider (New Hamburg, Ontario) and Jeanette (Orville) Cressman (Waterloo, Ontario). He is preceded in death by his parents Omar Snider and Maylinda (Hallman) Snider, his stepmother Elsie (Groff) Snider; and his siblings Ruth (Snider) Kinzie, Eunice Snider, Russell Snider, Gordon Snider, Yvonne Snider, and Eva (Snider) Brubaker. 

      He attended school through the 10th grade then left to help on the family farm because of the war.  After the war, he became a sea-going cowboy on a cattleboat transporting livestock to Crete for MCC.  He was in Florida with friends when he met Beulah. They lived in Elida at Beulah’s childhood home all of their married life. He worked at Lima Lumber and Lima Millwork in Lima, OH until his retirement in 1996.  He built a small shop behind the house and was well known for turning bowls on the lathe, which he sold at crafts shows and to people who stopped by.  Clare attended Bethel Mennonite Church in Delphos until it closed and Pike Mennonite Church in Elida until his death. His hobbies included traveling, growing flowers, gardening, and photography, as well as woodworking. He loved reading his Bible and listening to a variety of gospel music styles.

We would like to thank Pike Mennonite Church for being there for him, the private caregivers for their excellent care, and Interim Hospice for end-of-life care.

Pike Mennonite Church will host viewings from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 20 and from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 21. The funeral service will also be held at Pike Mennonite Church at 3:00 pm on Thursday, December 21, followed by a graveside committal in the Pike Cemetery.