Mary Alice Altenbern Sneider, known as Alice to the many who loved her, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, surrounded by family at her home near McNaughton, Wis., after a two-year battle with cancer.
She was born March 4, 1936 in Savannah, Ill., to Carl and Ora Altenbern, where she joined her (slightly) older sister Ann in a loving and caring family. She was named after her mother’s sister, Alice Lucille McCall. The Altenbern family moved to Burlington, Wis., in 1939, where she grew to become an athletic young woman, spending her summers running the Red Cross swimming program.
She had a lifelong love of music. She played trombone in your younger years, sang in several community and church choirs, and played piano throughout her life. After graduation from Burlington High School in 1954, she attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, majoring in home economics, where she met the love of her life, William Alexander Sneider in December of 1955. They were “pinned” in March of 1956 and married that October.
After graduation, the couple moved to Wausau, Wis., where he joined his parents, Elmer “Bud” Sneider and Anne Alexander Sneider in the dairy business. They started their own family with gusto, having five children in 4 1/2 years.
She was the mom that all children hope to have. She spent her days exploring life and learning with her children, Steven (Deanne) Sneider of DeForest, Wis., Susan (Thomas) Weimerskirch, and Eric (Barb) Sneider, both of Wausau, Richard Sneider of Prairie du Sac, Wis., and Anne (Michael) Molling of Nacagdoches, Texas. She treasured her 10 grandchildren and was excited to learn that she had a great-grandchild on the way.
In 1964, the Sneiders built her Palace on Two Sisters Lake and she and the kids, along with their many pets, lived at the cottage each summer. He would drive up after work on weekends, usually transporting his children’s friends for days filled with fun and laughter. Family friends were always welcomed to the cottage with open arms, great food and plenty of year-round activity.
During the school year, she was involved in many school events and athletic activities with her children. She was also active in the community with her many friends through dinner parties, bridge clubs and snowmobile or other trips with the “Jolly Jocks.”
Annual family spring vacations in Gulf Shores led to a love of the beach community. After their children were grown, the couple made their permanent residence in neighboring Orange Beach, where they enjoyed golfing and the company of friends.
She was an accomplished golfer and shared her enthusiasm by participating in leagues and tournaments both in Gulf Shores and Rhinelander. Together they travelled throughout the 50 states, often on slow and winding back roads. They saw the sighs, met with friends and family and played many beautiful golf courses.
She loved nature, the outdoors and gardening. She was a very strong and independent woman and displayed her positive outlook and “can do” attitude every single day.
She was an early riser and relished the quiet solitude as darkness turned to dawn. Her favorite moments included float boat rides at sunset, crisp nights with brilliant stars, sitting around a bonfire helping her grandchildren make s’mores, an approaching storm with her children dangling their feet in the lake until well after the first flash of lightening, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing Handel’s Messiah, football in front of the fireplace, watching the children swim and grand-dogs play, taking walks through the Northwoods, exploring back roads, making all welcome in her home, and most of all loving her family and friends. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Services to celebrate her life will be held Sunday, Nov. 25 at Carlson Funeral Home in rhinelander. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. with a brief service to follow. After the service, a reception will be held at McNaughton Pub and Grill on Highway 47 north of Rhindelander in McNaughton.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Wausau Family Resource Center in care of Sue Weimerskirch, 705 S. 24th Ave., Wausau, WI 54401.
Arrangements are by Carlson Funeral Home, Rhinelander, Wis.
