Sneller, Lynn Jay 1948-2024

SNELLER, VANWYHE, TENCLAY

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/11/2025 at 14:10:14

Mr. Lynn Jay Sneller, age 76, of Orange City, passed away on October 16, 2024, at his home in Orange City.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Tuesday, October 22, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. There will be a service celebrating Lynn’s life on Wednesday, October 23, at 11:00am, at the First Reformed Church in Orange City, with the Rev. Mark Haverdink officiating. Interment will take place at the East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon at a later date.

Lynn Jay was born on June 6, 1948, to Jake and Janet (Van Wyhe) Sneller. He grew up in Sheldon and graduated from the Sheldon High School in 1966. He was especially interested in athletics during high school, and he excelled as a track and field athlete. He continued his education at the University of Northern Iowa and graduated in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in science education.

After college, Lynn entered Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. In January of 1971, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy and entered flight training, earning his wings in July of 1971. His Naval career brought him to many duty stations in Chicago, Illinois; Albany, Georgia; Key West, Florida; and Sigonella, Sicily, Italy. After seven years of active duty, he joined the Naval Reserve in Sioux City, Iowa and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. During his time in the Reserves, he was the commanding officer of six different Reserve units. After serving for twenty years in the Navy, he retired as a Commander. He often said that his years in the Navy had a lasting impact on his life.

In 1979, Lynn began his career as a paint chemist at Diamond Vogel Paint, formulating industrial and trade sales coatings. He retired as a senior chemist at the company after thirty-three years of employment.

On November 24, 1972, Lynn was united in marriage to Denise Ten Clay at the Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center. During the first five years of their marriage, Denise was able to accompany Lynn to his various Navy duty stations. After completing his assignment in Sigonella, Sicily, in 1977, Lynn and Denise returned to Northwest Iowa and have since made their home in Orange City, where they raised their two sons, Matthew and Jason.

For many years, Lynn was an active member of American Reformed Church in Orange City, where he served as a deacon, an elder, and as a Sunday School and Catechism teacher. He also served as an elder delegate to the East Sioux Classis of the Reformed Church in America. For the past few years, Lynn and Denise have been blessed to be members of the First Reformed Church in Orange City.

Lynn and Denise liked traveling together and were able to visit all fifty states in the US. During their retirement years, they especially enjoyed taking several cruises; their favorite memories were the river cruises that they took to many countries in Europe. They also liked being snowbirds, wintering in Mesa, Arizona for eight years.

Lynn was an enthusiastic golfer for many years, and he also enjoyed playing tennis and pickle ball. He was active with the Dutch Heritage Boosters and was a member of Pressman Kosters American Legion Post in Orange City. Both Lynn and Denise were avid Northwestern College sports fans and attended as many local athletic events as possible.

Lynn is survived by his loving wife of more than 51 years, Denise, of Orange City; two sons and their wives, Matthew and Allison (Pirri) Sneller, of Edina, Minnesota; and Jason and Stephanie (Jackson) Sneller, of Oswego, Illinois; five beloved grandchildren, Jacob Sneller, Lilly Sneller, Cora Sneller, Aidan Sneller, and Abby Sneller; three sisters-in-law, Peggy Sneller, of Grayslake, Illinois; Rhoda Sneller, of West Des Moines; and Marcia (Ten Clay), and her husband, Robert Vos, of Auburn, Washington; and a brother-in-law and his wife, Roger and Sherry (Vander Meer) Ten Clay, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five siblings; Vernon Sneller, and his wife, Pauline; Arlene, and her husband, Willie Roemmich; Marvin Sneller; Loren Sneller (as an infant); and Lynn’s twin brother, Lowell Sneller.

Memorials will be given to Northwestern College in Orange City.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.