Jerry Lee Snowden

Jerry Lee Snowden, age 85, of Elkhart, IN, formerly of Ft. Wayne, IN and Fort Myers, FL, passed away on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at Elkhart General Hospital.  He went home to be with his Lord, at peace, without pain.  Embracing his two lost children.  Reunited with his parents, his brothers, and his sister. Walking on two good legs with no pain in his joints. Looking down on us with two perfect eyes. Filling us with the brilliant love that we have always known and received from him.

Jerry was born on October 14, 1935 in Huntington, IN to Benjamin Warren Snowden and Anna Snowden. The youngest of five boys, Jerry and his brothers formed the Snowden Brother Brass Quartet, traveling and playing for many years in churches all over Indiana. Their Quartet was a great passion of his! Jerry attended Olivet Nazarene University where he studied business and more importantly, met the love of his life, Sharon Carpenter.  They married on June 20, 1959 and went on to have six children, making Ft Wayne, IN their home.

Jerry was a lifelong member of the Nazarene Church. He loved his God and passionately lived a life of devotion to both Christ and his family.  An adoring husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, his deep love for children made him the best Dad and Pappy a child could hope for.  Never have any of them for one moment, lived wondering what it was like to be loved beyond measure. The twinkle in his eye and the playful sound in his voice, provided a consistent hum of peace and joy.  His love lives on in them.  It is, and always will be, the fabric that runs through and around each one of them, and their family.

Jerry loved college basketball and was a loyal fan of Indiana University (as in watching every game and knowing every player and stat).  He found great pleasure in fishing, music, checking-in and staying up-to-date with loved ones, playing silly tricks, and making people laugh. He was blessed with the gift of bringing an easy smile to others faces and always finding a way to create laughter and giggles…

In business, Jerry worked for 28 years in the life insurance industry.  He served as President of the State Association of Life Underwriters and achieved Million Dollar Roundtable honors numerous times.  After retiring from Insurance, he began a second career in the automotive industry, from which he then officially retired.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Sharon Snowden; their children, Klarc (Tanya) Snowden of Cleveland, OH; Rhonda (Dusty) Imoo of White Rock, British Columbia; Kameron (Sarah) Snowden of Brownsburg, IN; and Niccole Snowden of Indianapolis, IN; their grandchildren, Brittany (Jamie) McDonald, Van Imoo, Jonah Imoo, Mak Imoo;  Zoey Snowden; Kaije Guynn and Eli Snowden; Tajan Willoughby, Asjia John, and Leah Strickland; and their great grandchildren, Finn McDonald, Reiker McDonald, and Bimini Benson.  He is also survived by his brother Ned (Mary) Snowden.  Jerry was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Robin Snowden, his beloved son Benjamin Snowden, his sister Charlotte Singer, and his brothers, Charles Snowden, Gene Snowden, and Jack Snowden.

A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Elkhart Northside Church of the Nazarene, 53569 County Road 7, Elkhart, IN 46514.  Sanctuary doors will open at 1:00pm for family and 1:30pm for all other attendees.  Immediately following the Celebration of Life Service, all are invited to gather in the Connection Room at Elkhart Northside for a time of sharing, fellowship, and yummy, home-cooked food. Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com