Janet Snyder

For Janet Snyder, family was the greatest source of happiness in her life. She cherished them with all her heart, caring for them in times of need and celebrating with them in times of joy. Janet was a quiet woman who, through her love and hard work, provided a strong and benevolent foundation for her family.

With the end of World War I, the year 1919 marked a time of change in American history, as young men returned home from Europe to start families amidst a booming post-war economy. Elton G. Cleveland, a schoolteacher, principal and part-time farmer in Riley Center, Michigan, and his wife, Mildred Eileen Wade, were among the expecting parents, and on December 28, 1919, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Janet, the second of their three children.

Janet grew up in St. Clair Township on their family farm and was baptized at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Ypsilanti. As a child, Janet spent the better part of two years in bed because she was quite sickly. It was during this time that she grew to love reading books of every kind. She carried this passion with her throughout her life and had read over 1,000 books in her lifetime. By the time Janet was a teenager, the Great Depression was nearing its height, and it was hard on all Americans, including the Cleveland family. Her father had lost his job and the farm, and so they moved to Kalamazoo, where he found work selling Dodge automobiles.

Janet completed her education in Kalamazoo at Western State High School, graduating in 1938. It was here that she met Norman Snyder, who became her high school sweetheart, and a year after graduating they were married on July 28, 1939, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo. The couple spent the next 62 years together, sharing their every day lives and an everlasting love, working side by side. Janet was a firm believer in family values and the bonds of holy matrimony, and she treasured her wedding day and their 60th anniversary as the happiest days in her life. In later years, Janet would lovingly instill in her children and grandchildren her solemn belief in marriage.

At the time, Norm was making a living as a baseball player, and the couple moved around quite a bit for his games. Many of Janet's days were spent sitting on bleachers watching Norm play ball. In 1951, Norm finished his baseball career and he and Janet moved to Rollingstone, Minnesota, living in an apartment above the tavern they owned, called Norm and Jan's Tavern. A great cook, Janet did all the cooking for the Tavern. After 7 years, the couple sold the Tavern and moved to Vicksburg in 1958, to be closer to family. Once here, the couple owned and operated Wayside Press and later Oliver and Tobias Printing.

Janet was a devoted mother to her three children: William, Julie and David, and took an active role in every phase of their lives. From being a Den mother to attending every sporting event and school activity, Janet's passion was to support her family. Later in life, Janet was blessed with several grandchildren and great grandchildren, and she poured the same amount of love into these relationships as she did with her own children. When her children were growing up, long family vacations were hard to come by, since they owned their own business. However, on a moments notice, they would load the car up and take a day trip, which was just as much fun.

Family was the cornerstone of Janet's life, and family traditions were equally as important. The biggest one being Christmas! They had a Christmas Eve tradition of having Janet's homemade spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, which started when they owned the tavern and something needed to simmer while they worked. But, more importantly, it was an opportunity for all the family to come together. Eventually, the family outgrew itself and it was difficult to have a single-family gathering, so they began planning family reunions in the summer to void this gap. The weather was so much nicer in the summer and everyone could gather outside, which was undoubtedly large enough to accommodate the entire family. Another event that Janet always looked forward to was the monthly luncheons of the Snyder women, which included her daughter, daughters-in-law and granddaughters. This was a special time for her and she cherished these moments together.

After Janet and Norm retired, they began traveling more extensively and visited places like Florida, Arizona and Texas (among others) in their motor home. They also had memorable trips to Hawaii and Alaska. The couple enjoyed being social, though most of it revolved around their businesses. They both liked going dancing, and Norm was active in the Lions Club, making Janet a Lioness. With a lifelong love of reading, Janet also enjoyed being involved in the Vicksburg Library Auxiliary.

Although Janet was quiet and reserved, she had a good sense of humor and was a lot of fun. She never interfered or was judgmental of her family, but supportive and loving in all things. Janet knew what was truly important in life, that there is nothing more valuable, more lasting or more rewarding than the love of family. She will be deeply missed, yet frequently remembered.

Janet Snyder, age 85 of Vicksburg, MI, died on Sunday, October 30, 2005, at Riverview Nursing Home in Three Rivers. Members of Janet's family include her 3 children: William and his wife Margaret Snyder, Julie and her husband Dennis Osterhouse, David and his wife Jolaine Snyder all of Vicksburg. Other members of her family include her brother, Dr. Eugene Cleveland, and his wife Mary of Alma; 7 grandchildren: Kathy and her husband Jeffrey Stiver, William N. Snyder, Jody and her husband Michael Tuinier, Debbie Gay, Christopher Ringler, Susan and her husband Billy Mitchell and Daniel Snyder; 11 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild; and 5 nephews. Besides her husband, Norman Snyder, she follows in death her brother, Vance Cleveland in 2000.

Learn more about Janet, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends on Wednesday, November 2, from 6-8 p.m. ™ - RDMG Life Story Funeral Home in Vicksburg. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 3, at the same location. Please visit Janet's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may archive a favorite memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to either the Vicksburg Historical Society Endowment Fund, South County EMS or the Vicksburg District Library.