Robert V. Snyders, Sr., M.D. | 92 | Wildwood, MO
It is with great sorrow, yet great blessings, that we announce the passing of Robert Vernon Snyders, Sr., M.D., of Wildwood, MO, on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. “Dr. Bob” was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, mentor, compassionate family physician, author, brilliant inventor, and source of advice, care, endless generosity, and house calls to thousands of patients, family members and friends.
Dr. Bob was born on April 4, 1930, in St. Ann, Missouri, to Leo H. and Henrietta Snyders of University City, MO.
He spent many a day in Calhoun County as a child and returned often for visits and family gatherings throughout his life. His ancestry ties to Calhoun County and the Netherlands include: Leo H. Snyders of Batchtown, IL; grandfather Gerhardus K. Johannes Snyders of Batchtown, IL; and great grandfather Peter Snijders of Meppen, IL. Leo was born and raised in Batchtown, IL, married Henrietta Geers in 1926, and died in 1991. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis. Gerhardus was born in 1852 in Nijmegen, Netherlands, came to America in 1863 with his father Peter, married Anna Maria Kientzy in 1876, and died in 1933 in Batchtown, IL. He is buried at St. Barbara’s Cemetery in Batchtown. Peter Snijders was born in Overasselt, Netherlands, immigrated to America in 1863, settled at True Hill in Calhoun County and is buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Meppen, IL.
After attending grade school at Our Lady of Lourdes in University City, MO, Dr. Bob graduated from Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, WI, in 1948. Driven by an intense desire to help others, he entered St. Louis University’s Pre-Med Program. In 1951, Dr. Bob entered St. Louis University Medical School and graduated third in his class in 1955. He began his two-year internship as a rotating surgical resident at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL, married Marilyn Palmer on Nov. 3, 1956, and was drafted into the Army in April 1957 to serve in South Korea at the 548th dispensary of the Fifth Army Headquarters. He returned home to his wife and first child, Robert Jr., in August 1958. He entered private family practice in Cahokia, IL, in 1959.
Dr. Bob retired from his medical practice Dec. 1, 1995, but never actually “retired.” He was a force of nature, his mind in constant motion. Dr. Bob developed and patented multiple heart valve technologies and cardiac therapies and approached medicine and the miracle of the human body with divine wonder, inspiration, and the never-ending quest to understand how it all worked.
Fortified with the sacraments of the Catholic Church, Dr. Bob has been called to eternal life. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marilyn Snyders, R.N. (nee Palmer), of Wildwood, MO; siblings Rev. William J. Snyders, S.J., of Grand Coteau, LA; Mary Ann Esson of Bonne Terre, MO; John P. Snyders of Memphis, TN; his eight sons and daughters, Robert, Jr., D.M.D. (Lisa) Tampa, FL; Daniel (Kathryn) of Conifer, CO; William of Chesterfield, MO; Matthew (Heather) of Dawsonville, GA; Carolyn, RN, BSN, (Nathan) of Bloomington, IL; Sarah of Dana Point, CA; Emily, RN, BSN, (John, RN, BSN) of Boulder, MT; Andrew (Taylor, PA-C) of Vine Grove, KY; 20 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by brothers Leo H. Snyders, Jr. and Edward A. Snyders, sister Dorothy Jane “Dede” Muldoon, and daughter Ruth Orta Snyders.
Robert was remembered with joy on Dec. 27, 2022, with a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in University City, MO, and was laid to rest in a private interment at Resurrection Cemetery in Affton, MO. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Robert’s name to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, St. Louis Council, online at https://svdpstlouis.org/donate, or by mail at Society of St. Vincent de Paul – St. Louis, PO Box 795039, St. Louis, MO 63179-0792. Family and friends may sign the family’s online guestbook at Schrader.com.
