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ENLARGE
Ursal “Coach” Snapp died Thursday, Sept. 24, following a long illness. He was 86.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Abundant Life Community Church on Alta Street in Grass Valley.
He was born in 1923 in South Dakota and spent his early childhood in Yankton, S.D. He was the second-youngest among six brothers.
He fondly remembered catching huge catfish out of the James River. His family moved to Marysville when he was 13, and then to Merrill, Ore.
He attended Idaho State University, where he was later inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame for boxing and football.
Mr. Snapp served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 until 1947.
He competed in amateur and Golden Glove boxing events and began his professional boxing career in 1948. He became the Pacific Northwest Champion and a world contender.
He married JoAnne, his beloved wife of 60 years, in 1949.
He obtained a master's degree in physical education from USC and moved to Nevada County. He was a physical education teacher and coach at Nevada Union High School for 35 years, retiring in 1987. Many students remember putting on the “gloves” to settle disputes in his P.E. class.
He was active in the American Legion for 42 years and was a past commander. He was a founding member of the Nevada County Sportsman's Club who enjoyed all sports and many outdoor activities, including landscaping and tending his vineyard.
He would sometimes relax in the evening reading about Bible prophecy.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnne of Grass Valley; daughters Sandy Forrest and Sara Nadeau of Grass Valley and Carolyn Lewis of Meadow Vista; son, Jerel Snapp of Grass Valley; grandchildren Michael Forrest, Jodi Pierce, Matt Nadeau, Jessica Mayfield, William Snapp and Spencer and Audrey Lewis; and great- grandchildren Madison and Peyton Pierce.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Irvin and Mae Snapp; brothers Charles, Lowell, Wilbur, Harold and Chester Snapp; and an infant sister.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Abundant Life Community Church, the American Legion Honor Guard or Hospice of the Foothills.
Arrangements are under the direction of Chapel of the Angels Mortuary and Crematory in Grass Valley.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Abundant Life Community Church on Alta Street in Grass Valley.
He was born in 1923 in South Dakota and spent his early childhood in Yankton, S.D. He was the second-youngest among six brothers.
He fondly remembered catching huge catfish out of the James River. His family moved to Marysville when he was 13, and then to Merrill, Ore.
He attended Idaho State University, where he was later inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame for boxing and football.
Mr. Snapp served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 until 1947.
He competed in amateur and Golden Glove boxing events and began his professional boxing career in 1948. He became the Pacific Northwest Champion and a world contender.
He married JoAnne, his beloved wife of 60 years, in 1949.
He obtained a master's degree in physical education from USC and moved to Nevada County. He was a physical education teacher and coach at Nevada Union High School for 35 years, retiring in 1987. Many students remember putting on the “gloves” to settle disputes in his P.E. class.
He was active in the American Legion for 42 years and was a past commander. He was a founding member of the Nevada County Sportsman's Club who enjoyed all sports and many outdoor activities, including landscaping and tending his vineyard.
He would sometimes relax in the evening reading about Bible prophecy.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnne of Grass Valley; daughters Sandy Forrest and Sara Nadeau of Grass Valley and Carolyn Lewis of Meadow Vista; son, Jerel Snapp of Grass Valley; grandchildren Michael Forrest, Jodi Pierce, Matt Nadeau, Jessica Mayfield, William Snapp and Spencer and Audrey Lewis; and great- grandchildren Madison and Peyton Pierce.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Irvin and Mae Snapp; brothers Charles, Lowell, Wilbur, Harold and Chester Snapp; and an infant sister.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Abundant Life Community Church, the American Legion Honor Guard or Hospice of the Foothills.
Arrangements are under the direction of Chapel of the Angels Mortuary and Crematory in Grass Valley.
