Marlene Lois Sand Snyder, 73, passed away peacefully in the arms of her son and daughter on April 8, 2011, in Colorado Springs, Co.

She was born Oct. 6, 1938, in Warsaw, to Willis R. and Lois C. Sand, Warsaw, who preceded her in death. On June 30, 1957, she married James W. Snyder, her husband of 34 years.

She graduated from Warsaw High School in 1956 and later attended Ohio State University and University of Colorado. Her first job after graduation was as a photojournalist with the Times-Union. She was truly multi talented and her eclectic interest lead to careers as a real estate agent, a bookseller, and as a founder of her own small business in the form of a full service travel agency. Her life long passion for literature and the dramatic arts led her to create, found, and grow a community theatre group in Ohio that grew to a troop of more than 100 with several productions to its credit. She was a painter, quilter, and seamstress amongst her many interests and enjoyed traveling with her husband, family, and friends over the years. Although the activities of her life had her creating homes in Texas, Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Colorado, and Arizona her heart was always with the beloved Winona Lake of her youth and later during her 10 years at Grammy’s Island on Lake Tippecanoe aka Bell Rohr Island. In addition to the many wonderful memories she has left us with her children and grandchildren will forever be grateful for the gifts of education and perspective that she so willingly and lovingly shared with us and the courage, perseverance, and independence, with which she lived her life. She was blessed to have had a life full of truly special friends whom she absolutely adored and treasured. Love is eternal. Her spirit will love eternally. We all love and miss her dearly, but we know that one day she will meet all of us at the gates. In honor of her request we will celebrate her life in the height of the coming summer when we return her to her Winona and then she will be home again forever.

Surviving are two brothers: Donald A. Sand, Warsaw, and Richard W. Sand, Warsaw and Arizona, and their families, including many nieces and nephews; a son, Mark A. Snyder, Tuscson, Ariz., and a daughter, Stacy L. Piper, Colorado Springs, Co; and six grandchildren: James W. Snyder, Andrew LW Snyder, Michelle Snyder, Alexander Snyder, Audri Piper, Ryan Piper and a great grandson, Parker Piper.

Marlene Lois Sand Snyder, 73, passed away peacefully in the arms of her son and daughter on April 8, 2011, in Colorado Springs, Co.

She was born Oct. 6, 1938, in Warsaw, to Willis R. and Lois C. Sand, Warsaw, who preceded her in death. On June 30, 1957, she married James W. Snyder, her husband of 34 years.

She graduated from Warsaw High School in 1956 and later attended Ohio State University and University of Colorado. Her first job after graduation was as a photojournalist with the Times-Union. She was truly multi talented and her eclectic interest lead to careers as a real estate agent, a bookseller, and as a founder of her own small business in the form of a full service travel agency. Her life long passion for literature and the dramatic arts led her to create, found, and grow a community theatre group in Ohio that grew to a troop of more than 100 with several productions to its credit. She was a painter, quilter, and seamstress amongst her many interests and enjoyed traveling with her husband, family, and friends over the years. Although the activities of her life had her creating homes in Texas, Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Colorado, and Arizona her heart was always with the beloved Winona Lake of her youth and later during her 10 years at Grammy’s Island on Lake Tippecanoe aka Bell Rohr Island. In addition to the many wonderful memories she has left us with her children and grandchildren will forever be grateful for the gifts of education and perspective that she so willingly and lovingly shared with us and the courage, perseverance, and independence, with which she lived her life. She was blessed to have had a life full of truly special friends whom she absolutely adored and treasured. Love is eternal. Her spirit will love eternally. We all love and miss her dearly, but we know that one day she will meet all of us at the gates. In honor of her request we will celebrate her life in the height of the coming summer when we return her to her Winona and then she will be home again forever.

Surviving are two brothers: Donald A. Sand, Warsaw, and Richard W. Sand, Warsaw and Arizona, and their families, including many nieces and nephews; a son, Mark A. Snyder, Tuscson, Ariz., and a daughter, Stacy L. Piper, Colorado Springs, Co; and six grandchildren: James W. Snyder, Andrew LW Snyder, Michelle Snyder, Alexander Snyder, Audri Piper, Ryan Piper and a great grandson, Parker Piper.