Irene Streng Snyder ‘52

Irene E. Snyder, 93, passed away on Sunday March 10, 2024 in Oshkosh.
Irene was born November 11, 1930, in Cook, Nebraska, the daughter of the Reverend John and Nora (Bischoff) Streng. The Streng family moved to Beatrice, NE when her father was called to serve at St. John Lutheran Church in 1937.
During World War II, Irene served her country by delivering telegrams after school. She graduated from Beatrice High School in 1948 and returned to Beatrice several times for reunions. In the fall of 1948, Irene started attending Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Irene remembers her first day on campus. It was for freshman registration. So many professors wanted to meet the daughter of Reverend Streng, that by the time she got around to registering for classes, Irene had no idea what to do. That is, until another student, Bob Snyder, came over and asked Irene if she needed any help. In 1949, when Wartburg held its Christmas party, which, according to Irene, “everyone had to have a date,” she attended with Bob. While at Wartburg, Irene studied to be a parish worker.
In the spring of 1950, Irene moved to St. Paul, MN. She worked for a local Lutheran church by conducting a door-to-door survey. In the fall of 1950, Irene moved to Houston, TX. She worked for Park Place Lutheran. Irene taught kindergarten at the church in the morning and worked in the church office during the afternoon.
On July 6, 1952, she married the love of her life, Bob, at St. John in Beatrice. Her father officiated the wedding. Irene and Bob moved to Iowa City, IA, where Bob started work on his master’s degree. They also lived in Manhattan, Kansas where Bob taught at Kansas State University. There was one more relocation, in 1964, to Oshkosh, WI when Bob was hired to establish an academic program in Radio/TV/Film.
In those early years in Oshkosh, Irene worked for the Miles Kimball Company during the Christmas season, answering the phone and taking catalog orders. From 1972-1977, she was employed at Oshkosh North High School as an aide. Her final employment was with UW Oshkosh in the Admissions Office. Her favorite part of that job was conducting tours of Oshkosh for the parents of incoming freshmen.
Irene loved to travel. Beyond the annual treks, as the Snyder children were growing up, to see extended family, there were family trips to New Orleans, St. Louis, Atlanta, and New York. Irene and Bob saw China, Russia, Norway Sweden, Denmark, Germany (during the year of Martin Luther’s 500th birthday), Spain, Estonia, France, Latvia, Yugoslavia, Italy, Morocco, Israel, and Lithuania, Countless trips were made to the family cabin near Manawa, WI. There was also a trip to Ireland with her sister-in-law Audrey Alpers. After Bob died in 2008, she took each of her children on a trip of their choice. Barry and Irene went to New Mexico, a cruise to Alaska with Wendy, Washington, DC with Rob and Asheville, NC with Rich.
Among her many interests, Irene loved to read, play bridge, complete jigsaw puzzles, tend to her plants and eat Hughes’ chocolates and Leon’s custard. Among her many activities, Irene was a member of Faculty Dames at UWO, the Red Hat Club, and St. Andrew’s Lutheran.
“I can look back and say I did some stuff,” said Irene. If you called Irene’s land line and got the answering machine, you heard her recite Psalm 118:24, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Her faith was an important part of her life.
Those who remain to cherish Irene’s memory include her children, Barry, Wendy, Rob and Rich; daughters-in-law Victoria (Rob) and Trudy (Rich); grandchildren Ashley, Alex, Nick, Holden and Aidan; brother Erwin Streng; sisters-in-law Marie (Erwin) Streng, Lois (Snyder) Selk and Audrey (Snyder) Alpers; many nieces and nephews. Irene was preceded in death by her parents, the Reverand John and Nora Streng, husband Bob, brother Herb and sister Ruth, and brothers-in-law Wayne (Lois) Selk, Bob (Ruth) Templeton, Ken (Audrey) Alpers and sister-in-law Mary Lou (Herb) Streng.