Paul E. Snuffer

Minneapolis – Paul Eugene Snuffer, 87, went home to be with the Lord in the early morning hours of Friday, May 15, 2026. He was born July 30, 1938 in Chicago, IL to the late Ross Fern and Harriet Zylpha Ruth Swingle Snuffer. On April 21, 1957, Paul made the most important decision of his life when he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ, a commitment that shaped every chapter that followed.

Paul married the love of his life, Judith “Judy” Dewald, on August 6, 1960. It’s impossible to share even a few moments of his story without including her. For over 65 years, theirs was a partnership deeply rooted in faith and marked by love, perseverance, laughter and a shared calling. Together they served in ministry for decades, encouraging and nurturing churches and missionaries in Michigan, Nebraska, Florida and across the globe including Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Ukraine and Russia.

Paul graduated from Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music’s undergraduate program in 1962 and from the seminary in 1964. While there, he committed himself to full-time Christian ministry. He spent a lifetime sharing the love of Jesus, but one of his greatest personal joys was teaching the Bible to his own children and grandchildren. Over the years, he spent countless hours refining and expanding those early lesson plans until they were eventually published in 2022 as Major Bible Themes, leaving a lasting legacy not only for his family, but for countless others.

Paul’s ministry touched untold lives across all ages. His mission was clear: to show that the life of the Christ-follower is not one of drudgery, but the most fulfilling life imaginable, a life marked by true freedom in Christ.

In those days, it was hard to live on a minister’s salary, particularly with a wife and five children, but Paul was an entrepreneur at heart. He was always finding ways to make extra money. From selling corn door-to-door to peddling rags to local auto shops to fixing up used cars to resell for a profit, Paul was determined to provide for his family.

Yet in the midst of his hard work, Paul held firmly to what mattered most: quality time with his family. Family vacations were non-negotiable. No matter how busy life became, he made sure his family had time together travelling across the country in their conversion van, often pulling a pop-up camper behind. Those trips live on as treasured memories of love, laughter and togetherness.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Ross Fern and Harriet Zylpha Ruth Swingle Snuffer; brothers: David, Bob and Philip Snuffer; and sister, Janet Bedgood.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Judy Snuffer; daughters: Carol (John) Glad, Amy Addington, Julie (Hamilton) Owen and Jill (Mark) Sandager; son, Michael (Mary) Snuffer; brother, Daniel (Ann) Snuffer; granddaughters: Alexandria Addington, Josephine (Jordan) Hirschfeld, Katherine (David) Wetterstrom, Adrian Snuffer, Audrey Glad, Rebecca (Luke) Fogleman, Jillian Algate, Harriet Sandager and Gertrude Sandager; grandsons: Zachary Snuffer, Anders (Megan) Glad, Cameron Owen, Daniel Addington, Andrew (Hannah) Algate, Ethan Glad, Josiah Snuffer, Lucas Algate and Gilbert Sandager; great granddaughters: Evelyn, Cordelia, Cora, Laurel, Beverly and Charlotte; great grandsons: Boaz, Christopher and Jonathan; and many other beloved family members and dear friends.

Paul will be laid to rest Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 1 pm at Oster Cemetery, 11912 Emerson Avenue SW, Waverly, MN 55390. His family will receive friends Friday, June 12, 2026, from 12-1 pm at Westgate Church, 705 County Road 101, Plymouth, MN 55447. A celebration of his life will follow at 1 pm.

The family requests that donations be made in Paul’s memory to Frontier School of the Bible, P.O. Box 217, 125 5th Avenue, La Grange, WY 82221.

Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.