John B. Snyder Ii

John B. Snyder II, age 73, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, May 25, 2023. He was born October 7, 1949 to John and Louise (Hutchinson) Snyder in Des Moines.

John is survived by his wife, Cathy; their son, Jack Snyder; his sister, Sherry Shafer of Minneapolis; and other friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

John grew up in Des Moines, attending public schools. He was valedictorian at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. He attended Drake University, graduating in 1971. Upon graduation, he took a job with Milliman Inc. (then Milliman & Robertson) in Milwaukee. After passing his actuarial exams, he became an equity principal at Milliman Inc. He was a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the American Academy of Actuaries.

John was united in marriage to Cathy Cannell in November 1971. They moved to the Lake Country in 1974 and welcomed Jack in 1975.

From an early age he was fascinated by astronomy and had eventually amassed an unparalleled collection of books. From high school through college, John was a professional musician, playing the clarinet. He played for numerous Broadway shows and other community productions in Des Moines.

After his retirement in 2006, he enjoyed solving math problems the rest of us would find impossible. He also was an accomplished ballroom dancer, ranked in the top 5 amateurs in the country. He loved eating out.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at Pagenkopf Funeral Home, 2228 N. Silver Maple Lane in Oconomowoc, with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. A private family burial will be held at The Gardens of Stonebank.

Memorials may be made in John’s name to the Berry Dresden Goldberg Actuarial Science Award at Drake University, at www.drake.edu (under Donation Information, please select “Give To” then “Other”, and type in: Berry Dresden Goldberg Actuarial Science Award).