Joshua Snorgrass' Obituary
Joshua Gene Snorgrass, age 23 of Centerville, Iowa passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
He was born September 12, 1990 in Clinton, Missouri, the son of Joyce (Medlin) Parker and Larry Snorgrass. Joshua graduated from Centerville High School in Centerville, Iowa in 2009.
Ever since Joshua was a little boy he loved to be outside in nature. He was always bringing home sick and injured animals that he rescued while outdoors. While nursing them back to health, he always fell in love with the animals and found it extremely difficult to let them go when the time came for their release back into the wild. Even at a young age, Joshua was cognizant of the fact that some of the animals that were rescued would not survive his care. He knew through these difficult experiences that sometimes in life a person has to make hard decisions that can hurt.
Joshua loved to find strange and beautiful rocks outdoors. He often brought these rocks home where he would wash them and set them on a shelf for display. Sometimes Joshua would give one of these rocks to a special person, such as a friend or family member. People who received one of these rocks knew how fortunate they were to receive one.
Josh's kindness and generosity was felt by all who came into contact with him. He was a true gentle giant of a man, with a heart bigger than he was, a giver of the heart, many times only to be hurt, but he still trusted and loved. Josh was also a hell of a fisherman. Any time he had an opportunity to grab his fishing pole and tackle box, he would go fishing from sun up to sun down.
Josh was the type of person who led by example. When he worked, he worked hard. When he played, he played hard, including his instigating of food fights with family members at family functions. Most importantly, when Joshua loved, he loved with his whole heart and soul.
He is survived by his mother, Joyce (Howard) Parker of Centerville, Iowa; his father, Larry Snorgrass of Clinton, Missouri; his brother and spirit of the heart, Kenneth (Robin) Purkey of Unionville, Missouri; a brother, Joey (Jenny) Knowles of Centerville, Iowa; three sisters, Shaelynn (D.C.) Mikels of Unionville, Missouri, Jessica (Nathan) Burtt of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Nicole Parker of Richland, Pennsylvania; a cousin, Joshua Medlin of Unionville, Missouri; special aunts and uncles, Shelly (Jack) McGrann of Centerville, Iowa, Dan (Michelle) Burns of Des Moines, Iowa and Regina (Doug) Shultz of Bloomfield, Iowa; seven nieces and nephews, Chase Mikels of Unionville, Missouri, Davii Knowles of Centerville, Iowa, Kenny and Christian Mikels of Unionville, Missouri, Richard and Lucas Burtt of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and C.C. Hughes; ten special friends, Ryan Bratz of Unionville, Missouri, Cody Jones of Oklahoma, Mike Peterson of Austin, Texas, Zach McGrann of Centerville, Jerry McGrann of Centerville, Sarah Burns of Des Moines, Juanita Hughes of Centerville, Kaylie and Jess Shultz of Bloomfield and Nancy Miller of Unionville, Missouri; and several grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles.
Josh was preceded in death by his sister, Angel; a grandmother, Wynema Clear; and other grandparents, aunts and uncles.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the large shelter house at the Lelah Bradley Park in Centerville on May 17, 2014 at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the family of Joshua Snorgrass and may be given to Lange Funeral Home and Crematory, 1900 S. 18th St., Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at www.langefh.com.
Celebration of Life
May 17, 2014 2:00 PM
Lelah Bradley Park 210th Avenue Centerville, IA
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