Wayne Snyder

Wayne Stuart Snyder, 72, died peacefully surrounded by friends and family at his daughters home in Cawker City, Kansas, on Aug. 1, 2023.

Wayne Stuart Snyder, known to all as "Dink" was born on Nov. 12, 1950 to parents Kenneth "Red" Snyder and Genelda Maxine Snyder in Belleville, Kansas. Wayne was one of four siblings. Older sisters Jerene, Norma and younger brother, Joseph, an infant brother who died shortly after birth.

Wayne attended all 13 years of public school in Superior, Nebraska, and graduated with the Class of 1969. As a child, Dink was often found fishing with his grandfather or helping his father with his construction business.

Dink enlisted with the Marines and was a proud Marine Corps Veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, ands served two tours in the Vietnam War. What most don't know is Dink was one of 5,000 Marines that were part of a specialized group called the Combined Action Program. CAPS was one of the Marine Corps counter-guerrilla strategies to pacify the rural countryside and stop the Viet Cong from interfering with the normal lives of the villagers. These Combined Action Platoons, (CAPs) were ideally 14 US Marines and a US Navy combat corpsman who integrated into a Vietnamese Popular Force platoon. CAP Marines lived within the villages to secure and protect them. CAP was a United States Marine Corps operational initiative in the Vietnam War and proved to be one of the most effective counterinsurgency tools developed during that conflict. After completing his service commitment, Dink returned to Quantico, Virginia, in 1971, and became a demolition instructor for the Marine Corps before returning home to Kansas.

Dink attended Central Community College in Hastings, Nebraska, graduating with the Class of 1974 and gained employment at at Dubuque Meat Processing Plant in Mankato, Kansas. Dink earned his degree as a U.S.D.A. Meat inspector and during his career, Dink achieved a National USDA Unsung Hero's Award and was honored with a trip to Washington, D.C. to receive his plaque for outstanding public service.

Dink and Charline relocated several times, but the majority of their lives was in Jewell County with their children Soan and Venus. After years of saving and Dink's construction knowledge, Dink and Charline together were able to build their dream home near Lovewell lake. Dink was an avid outdoorsman and could be found sitting at the Lovewell inlet fishing for a world record flathead.

Dink was preceded in death by his parents, Red and Maxine Snyder; sister, Jerene Trammell; wife, Charline Snyder; and brothers-in-law, Earl Hillman and Charles Trammell.

Dink is survived by sister, Norma Hillman; brother ,Joe Snyder; son, Soan Snyder; daughter, Venus Geisler; and grandchildren: Laethion, Rihannah, Kylia, Lakota, Treyton, Dane and Levi.

There will be a celebration of Dink's life at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 12 at the Superior, Nebraska VFW. The family encourages all family, friends, and veterans to attend to send Dink home with a patriotic send off. SEMPER FIDELIS