Surnames: SNYDER FARNING TOBIN HEMP REINHARDT

----Source: TRIBUNE-RECORD-GLEANER (Loyal, Wis.) 01/01/2003

Snyder, Gertrude K. (1899 - 26 Dec 2002)

Gertrude K. Snyder, 103, Neillsville, died on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, at the Memorial Nursing Home, Neillsville. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Gertrude Farning was born in 1899 in rural Neillsville to Frank and Anna (nee Tobin) Farning. Her father was killed by a train after slipping on the tracks and her mother passed away soon after. She and her only sibling, a brother, went to live with their aunt and uncle. She attended the Catholic school in Neillsville and Neillsville High School. She worked as an operator for the telephone company, in its formative years, in Neillsville. Later, she moved to Chicago and worked for Carson Pirie Scott for 21 years. She married Ernest "E.H." Snyder in 1957. Her husband owned a large plot of land six miles west of Neillsville, and in 1929, he built a stone dam, creating what has come to be known as Snyder Lake. He later donated a parcel of the land to the county and today it is known as Snyder Park. After their marriage they constructed a home along the lake. She lived there for 40 years. In 1998, she moved to the Country View apartments and then later to the Angelus Retirement Community.

Survivors include one niece, Jean (Robert) Hemp, Universal City, Texas; a great-nephew, James (Anne) Hemp, Coronado, Calif.; and a great-niece, Janie (Dean) Reinhardt, Guam.

Preceding her in death were her husband, her parents and a brother.

The Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville, is assisting the family with arrangements.