Sixth Generation

75. Phyllis BATTEN was born (date unknown).

Phyllis BATTEN and Martin Lee SNIDER were married about 1953.⁸⁷ Martin Lee SNIDER, son of Ernest J. SNIDER and Georgia Ann JOHNSON, was born on 18 May 1932 in Monroe County, WI.²⁸ He died on 13 February 2017 at the age of 84 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸⁷

Obituary Notes: "Martin Lee Snider was born May 18, 1932, in the farmhouse across the field from his home in the town of La Grange. He has lived only a few years of his life away from that farm. He died at his home Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, suddenly and unexpectedly.

He attended White School for eight years with all the other neighborhood kids and his two older siblings. He was in the 1950 graduating class at Tomah High School. His favorite class was band where he played drums. His parents were Ernest and Georgia (Johnson) Snider. His father died when Martin was a senior and he took over the duties of that position, especially with his little sister, Ruth. He went to work at Larkins Tomah Auto Service and worked there until 1960, loving every part of that job, including his employer. In 1960 he went to work for Northwest Telephone Co., again loving his work and his employer. Martin assisted Mrs. Allen with the selection of furnishing for the Northwest new building and helped arrange them. Later Northwest Telephone purchased a cable trencher and they selected and trained Martin for that job. Martin and his crew installed cable all over the state. Again, he loved his work. Helping select the young men hired each summer to work on the cable crew was always fun for him. They “had” to play cribbage and be fun and hardworking.

After high school Martin and Duane Prise and Duane’s dad started a band. They called it “The Polkadiers.” Through the years they changed and added and lost band members. Martin and his drums were the only constant. They played for dozens of wedding dances, parties and once a month gigs in some local pubs. Martin was delighted to see a picture of the band recently put out by the Monroe County History Room. The picture has been the third most viewed picture of the year. The photo was taken on the train to the “Milwaukee Braves” baseball game during Tomah’s Centennial.

Martin liked camping, bonfires, playing cards, collecting tractors, jack-knives and ordering “stuff” from catalogues. But most of all, he loved hanging out with his family and especially his kids and their friends-some of whom moved in or became life-long adopted family. He like to putz, plow snow, feed the birds and always had a project or two, or three going on in “the shop.” If the sun was shining, Martin was out in his Kubota tractor, mowing every blade of grass he could find. In fact we think he mowed most of the county.

Martin loved his grandchildren, and loved giving gator or hay-rides around the farm which always brought smiles and laughter. Five o’clock meant cheese, crackers and Pepsi, watching the news. Martin’s zest for play was shown in his antics with “Friend,” his parrot. Martin was a life-long Packers and Cubs fan and enjoyed watching Sunday games with the family. Many summers, Martin pulled out his Telephone company snips, cut the cord off the TV, and sent the kids outside to play. Mysteriously the cord was repaired right before the first Packers game of the season.

Martin is survived and will be missed terribly by his wife of 63 years, Phyllis Batten; his seven children, Steve Snider (Susie) of Cave Creek, Ariz., Kay Mark of Naples, Fla., Karen Snider (Jim Brady) of Madison, Charles Snider (Brenda Rosandich) of Fond Du Lac, Wis., Kathy Herziger-Snider Ph.D of Sheboygan Falls, Kim Jost of Tomah, Curt (Mandy) Snider of Wind Lake; and special friends, Rodney (Joan) Brookman; his grandchildren, Nichole Mark (Austin, Katelyn) of Madison, Tim Mark of Neenah, Shawn Snider Leikness (Ryan, Kandon) of Edgerton, Hannah Jost of Milwaukee, Benjamin and Luke Herziger of Sheboygan Falls, Reisa, Hailey and Wyatt Snider; his stepgrandchildren, Sarah (Schleicher-Knutson), Ryan Brady, Shannon Sierra Brady (Helberth, Marco, Esteban). Martin is survived by his brother, Frank Snider of Virginia, and Ruth (Ward) Rawhouser of Portland. Martin’s family includes many nieces and nephews; the Reardons, Rawhousers, Virginia Sniders, Hasceks and Abels. Martin is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Phyllis Wilde (Reardon); sister-in-law, Nell Snider, sister-in-law, Lois (Bob) Hascek and sister-in-law, Helen Johnson; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, and a special nephew, Nathan Rawhouser.

Over the years the house that Martin and Phyllis built with love, has been a gathering spot for aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. There was always room for one more at the dinner table. There are not enough words to describe the character of this amazing husband, Dad, PaPa, Pappy, Pop’s, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. His constant smile and giant hugs are forever in our hearts and memories.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at the United Methodist Church in Tomah. Pastor Krysta Deede will officiate. Burial will be held in the Greenfield Cemetery following the service. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. today, Feb. 16, at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Visitation will also be held from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service Friday at church."
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