Obituary of Esther Snyder

Esther Lorenc Snyder (88), born January 8, 1916 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, fourth child of Frank and Anna Lorenc, sister of Frank, Matthew and Anton Lorenc, passed away on November 21, 2004, in Iowa City after a brief illness An accomplished pianist, she was state champion in high school and accompanied the Grant High Glee Club, Cedar Rapids, where she graduated in 1934. At Coe College she acquired a lifelong interest in paleontology, participating in two geology field trips to western US and Canada before graduating Coe in 1937 with majors in French and English. During World War II, she worked as a medical technologist in Cedar Rapids and Urbana, Illinois, where she met and married Robert Snyder; the two later divorced. After the War, she lived for four years in Iowa City, where her sons were born; she moved to Urbana for four years, and returned to Iowa City permanently in 1955. Recognized for her contributions to Boy Scouting, she was an avid gardener, reader, traveler and conversationalist. She pursued graduate work at the University of Iowa in archaeology and Russian, teaching Russian at the University for four years. She built a harpsichord and played Bach. In later years, she was a biomedical researcher at the University of Iowa Hospitals, contributing to numerous research studies and coauthoring dozens of research papers. Among her lifelong interests were foreign languages, art and literature. She is survived by her sons, Lawrence (Julie) of Seattle, Washington, and Alden (Laura) of Lisle, Illinois, as well as five grandchildren: Daniel, David, Margaret, Nora and Anna. At her request there is no memorial service; remembrances can be sent to the National Czech and Slovak Museum, 30 16th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404-5904. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service cared for Esther’s family and her arrangements.