Donnie was born to Donald and Willow Snyder (Smith) on November 16th, 1934, in Duluth, MN. He was their eldest son, followed by brother Jerry and sister Wendy. The family enjoyed summers at a perfectly charming, rustic cabin surrounded by birch trees on Minnesota’s Lake Elora for many years.

He loved music; “good music” produced goosebumps. He was probably influenced by his mother - she brought him to a Duluth radio station as a little boy to sing “Danny Boy”. Les Mis’erables was one of those goosebump favorites in later years.

Sports were a passion, Don played hockey and baseball in leagues as a youngster, graduating from Duluth East in 1952. Then along came another passion - he married Diana Stycket in 1957, and they were joined at the hip ever after.

He was a loyal fan of the Twins and Vikings even after moving to Oklahoma to continue raising his family. He was drawn to Oklahoma City in the early 60’s, accepting an opportunity with Western Electric (later AT&T) for full time employment as the family grew to 6D’s. Don took his role as family provider very seriously.

Don was offered early retirement from AT&T at 55, and eagerly accepted the opportunity to get back to the Northland. He and Diana retired to Minong, Wisconsin (because a bit longer summer than Duluth, plus his folks had retired to a nearby lake). He embraced the quiet beauty of his own lake, the abundant wildlife, and appreciated his great neighbors. They also enjoyed snow-birding to Tavares and Panama City Beach in Florida for several years before Diana became ill.

When she, the love of his life, passed a couple months after their 60th anniversary in 2017, he only wished to join Diana. A week before yet another anniversary without his beloved, Don finally got his wish and passed on February 25th, 2024. The family is grateful for staff at Water’s Edge and Hayward Memorial Hospital helping him through his final days.

Don leaves behind his remaining 3D’s - David, Dori (Rick), and Debbie (Ken), sister Wendy (Barney) Kimball, niece Tracy Anderson and nephew Jeff (Katie) Anderson, nephew Rick (Sharon) Snyder and niece Julie (Brian) Wedell (Snyder), and cousins Carole (Fred) Endres (Smith), Tom Smith, and Joan (Eric) Peterson (Smith), and niece Kiley.

He was preceded by his parents, his brother Gerald, his youngest son, Danny, and his wife, Diana.

Last Update: Mar 31, 2024 3:04 pm CDT