Arnie and Laura Snipes make the most of retirement

Arnie and Laura Snipes of Rochester are enjoying their retirement. At ages 92 and 74 respectively, the couple has made the most of their free time, even building their own home on the banks of the Tippecanoe River, where they also happen to be restoring around 100 acres of woodland.

In June, the Snipes will celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary. At the time of their wedding, Arnie, a Korean War veteran, had retired from a 30-year stint as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service. However, he was not quite ready to stop working, so he started Arnie Snipes Construction, specializing in roofing and siding.

Laura also helped with the construction business, and as a sideline she operated a choose-and-cut Christmas tree business, a job she dearly loved. “It was hard for me to let go of that,” she confided. But she has found another fulfilling past time to take its place.

The Snipes are working to restore roughly 100 acres of Indiana woodlands. It’s hard work protecting the native oaks, hickories and other species from

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“I hand planted a lot of the trees,” recalled Laura, who is also a master naturalist. “This is my passion. It’s not work.”

“I hope I live to be 94, so I can see the trees that were planted 20 years ago,” said Laura. While getting around has gotten a little more difficult in recent years, he still manages to put in regular rounds of golf at the Round Barn Golf Club. “I get out about three times a week,” he said. “I’ll golf as long as I can walk and swing the club.”

The Snipes have been active in other ways as well. They are members of the Kiwanis Club, and until recently were regular Habitat for Humanity volunteers. They helped roof the first Habitat house in Fulton County as well as several thereafter. They enjoyed their time with the organization. “It was fun to work with each other,” said Laura.

After working on so many houses for others, the Snipes decided to build one for themselves. Their home sits above the Tippecanoe River and is located at the end of a long drive, which winds through native woodlands

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The house is notable for its curved walls, tall ceilings and large windows, which blur the border between inside and outside, opening out into views of woods and the Tippecanoe River. The couple also used reclaimed wood, including hand-hewed barn beams.

The Snipes did much of the work themselves with the help of family and others. “There were so many adventures. Everything we did was something new,” said Laura, who credits Arnie’s “easy going” nature for helping the three-year building process go smoothly … except for one small mishap.

“I shot a spiked nail into my thumb,” said Laura. “We were careful after that.”

The resulting home is a testament to the couple’s harmonious relationship with nature and each other. If there is a secret to their success it may be Laura’s simple suggestion: “Just develop a sense of wonder.” help keep them “on task.”

The Rochester High School spring sports team pictures were recently published in Shopping Guide News. Rochester Lady Zebra softball player Lillee Conley had her name misspelled as “Konley.” We are sorry for the error and wanted to notify our readers of the correct spelling.

“There is more of an elementary school dynamic,” noted Lukens. “The student is the center, before the subjects.”

Along with Lukens, TVHS secretary Nicki Lewis and retired Allen County Deputy Prosecutor Byron Tinkey serve as teaching aides. Tinkey told Lukens he wanted to “help mold kids before they get into trouble,” rather than seeing them in court down the line.

TVHS counselors also work with Burket students. “We have a great staff from top to bottom.”

Lukens is keen to dispel stereotypes about behavioral problems often associated with “alternative education.” Burket students deal with a wide range of issues related to pregnancy, child care, mental and physical health problems, work and others. “They just need to be cared for a little more.”

Lukens still hears from Burket graduates who have had “tons of successes in life. … They just needed a different way of doing things.

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“I’ve seen a lot of great kids come through,” he enthused. In fact, a graduate currently working as an engineer in California recently reached out to Lukens on LinkedIn.

Burket Center also enjoys a close connection to TVHS and the local community. Close to 20 speakers have visited the center. Beaver Dam Community Church and Burket Bible Church sponsor holiday events and graduation. The recreation room sports a pool and pingpong tables where staff and students hold tournaments and a popular chili cook-off. Lukens goal is to increase community integration in the future.

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