Darwyn Verne “Tony” Snyder passed away on Dec. 2, 2022, in St. Louis, Mo. at the age of 98.

He grew up in Marathon, the only child of Rodney and Naomi (nee Goetschius) Snyder. He expressed fond memories of small-town life and later, Sioux City, where the family moved in 1941 when he was 17. He was enrolled at Morningside College for 1-1/2 years before enlisting in the Army. He was deployed overseas to Marseilles in October 1944, and participated in the southern invasion. During the winter of 1944-45, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

He was discharged in August 1945 and returned to Sioux City to complete his degree at Morningside College. Darwyn’s World War II service was recognized and honored by the French government on Feb. 25, 2020, when he was awarded the French Legion of Honor at a ceremony in St. Louis, presided over by the French Consul General.

It was during his return to college that he met and married his lifelong partner and love of his life, Joan Meyer. They were married for 74 years and life was not the same after Joan’s death in April of 2022. The Snyders had two children, Mark (Karen) and Melanie Coon, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Following Darwyn’s graduation with degrees in piano, music education and education administration, he pursued a distinguished career as a high school band director. He taught at Hawarden before becoming the band director at the Hartley Public School, where he taught from 1949 to 1954. He was then Director of Fine Arts at Westside High School in Omaha, Neb. for more than 30 years.

Darwyn offered private music lessons, directed the Countryside Community Church choir for 16 years, and founded and conducted the Nebraska Wind Symphony from 1977 to 1995, an achievement of which he was justly proud. He also served as the Assistant Director of the Omaha Youth Orchestra.

Interests were not limited to music, however, as he was actively involved in Rotary for 30 years and readily volunteered his time and talents to residents in Mexico during the couple’s winder vacation time in South Padre, Texas.

Joan and Darwyn moved to Friendship Village Senior Living Center in St. Louis in November of 2012, to live closer to their son Mark and his family. Not surprisingly, they became active residents in their community, with Darwyn playing the piano for Sunday chapel services and numerous other events. Most memorably, he produced his own music “Birthday Bash,” most recently for his 98th birthday.

A celebration of Darwyn’s life will be held in St. Louis on Saturday, Feb. 25. He will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.