LilMtnCbn
11-01-2003, 08:55 AM
http://www.pjstar.com/news/topnews/b16o00q1053.html
Community gathers to celebrate two lives
Children killed in car crash had rough childhood until adopted by the Snokes
November 1, 2003
By MATT BUEDEL
of the Journal Star
MORTON - Curtis and Brittany Snoke, described as inseparable "love sponges" at
their funeral Friday, lived two lives in less than 10 years.
The siblings, who died Sunday in a traffic accident in rural Tazewell County,
endured neglect so severe they couldn't speak at ages 3 and 4 respectively when
authorities intervened. A surgeon had to cut out their shards of baby teeth,
leaving only infected gums.
Yet, in post-adoption pictures, they always smiled. Wide, ear-to-ear, and,
usually, toothless grins.
The Rev. Andrew Snoke, the children's adoptive uncle, dubbed them love sponges:
"They would soak up all the love they could, and when you squeezed them, it all
came back out."
Poster board plastered with photos at Bethel Lutheran Church in Morton proved
their perseverance. Before the funeral, adoptive father Brad Snoke pointed out
one picture that hinted at the children's threshold of abuse.
The first known Christmas picture of the boy and girl, taken about a month
after their rescue, featured a muted winter night backdrop with Rudolph the
red-nosed reindeer standing on snowy ground.
Curtis wore a white turtleneck and dark cardigan sweater; Brittany, in a
burgundy velvet dress with white lace trim around the neck, laid on her stomach
in front of him. Both faces were bright, ecstatic, cherubic, with Brittany's
cheeks more rounded, visibly swollen.
"Look at the shape of her face - that's just from the infection … they were
miserable," Brad Snoke said. "We had them for four years,
and we had fun."
The children's adoptive grandfather, Robert Snoke, said during the service,
"They put a lifetime of living into four years."
Brad and Cindy Snokes, unable to have children of their own, adopted the
children from Lutheran Social Services. Marvin and Joanna Kenser first took the
toddlers in from the hospital.
"Brittany was very protective of Curtis, and more cautious," Joanna Kenser
said. "The children never could understand why kids could be mean to each
other."
The Snokes bought a camper and traveled coast to coast. The children swam in
Lake Superior, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. They witnessed the
breath-taking vistas of Yellowstone National Park and once saw a wild bear.
"We couldn't afford it, but we did it anyway," Brad Snoke said.
Now he feels he knows why. Curtis, 8, and Brittany, 9, died Sunday afternoon
when a pickup truck driven by Donald Wages, 60, of El Paso apparently ran a
stop sign and broadsided their van, driven by adoptive mother Cindy Snoke, who
remains in critical condition at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. A memorial
fund has been established for the family at First Security Bank in Deer Creek.
Wages was hospitalized, but St. Francis refused to release information on his
condition Friday.
Brad said Friday that Cindy has shown some improvement and is more responsive,
though it is unclear whether she knows Curtis and Brittany died in the
accident. The memorial service was videotaped so Cindy can experience it later.
"Cindy, the sanctuary is full," the Rev. Andrew Snoke said to the congregation,
which filled every seat and the upper balcony, and spilled into the outer hall.
"You can't see them, but they're all here to offer their support."
Robert Snoke urged those gathered to take this tragedy as a chance to examine
their own relationships, particularly those with children.
"What if when you leave here and go home, and you look in your mailbox, and you
have a letter from God?" he asked. "And he's telling you, you only have your
children on loan. … Would you do something different?
"I know Brad and Cindy wouldn't."
Community gathers to celebrate two lives
Children killed in car crash had rough childhood until adopted by the Snokes
November 1, 2003
By MATT BUEDEL
of the Journal Star
MORTON - Curtis and Brittany Snoke, described as inseparable "love sponges" at
their funeral Friday, lived two lives in less than 10 years.
The siblings, who died Sunday in a traffic accident in rural Tazewell County,
endured neglect so severe they couldn't speak at ages 3 and 4 respectively when
authorities intervened. A surgeon had to cut out their shards of baby teeth,
leaving only infected gums.
Yet, in post-adoption pictures, they always smiled. Wide, ear-to-ear, and,
usually, toothless grins.
The Rev. Andrew Snoke, the children's adoptive uncle, dubbed them love sponges:
"They would soak up all the love they could, and when you squeezed them, it all
came back out."
Poster board plastered with photos at Bethel Lutheran Church in Morton proved
their perseverance. Before the funeral, adoptive father Brad Snoke pointed out
one picture that hinted at the children's threshold of abuse.
The first known Christmas picture of the boy and girl, taken about a month
after their rescue, featured a muted winter night backdrop with Rudolph the
red-nosed reindeer standing on snowy ground.
Curtis wore a white turtleneck and dark cardigan sweater; Brittany, in a
burgundy velvet dress with white lace trim around the neck, laid on her stomach
in front of him. Both faces were bright, ecstatic, cherubic, with Brittany's
cheeks more rounded, visibly swollen.
"Look at the shape of her face - that's just from the infection … they were
miserable," Brad Snoke said. "We had them for four years,
and we had fun."
The children's adoptive grandfather, Robert Snoke, said during the service,
"They put a lifetime of living into four years."
Brad and Cindy Snokes, unable to have children of their own, adopted the
children from Lutheran Social Services. Marvin and Joanna Kenser first took the
toddlers in from the hospital.
"Brittany was very protective of Curtis, and more cautious," Joanna Kenser
said. "The children never could understand why kids could be mean to each
other."
The Snokes bought a camper and traveled coast to coast. The children swam in
Lake Superior, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. They witnessed the
breath-taking vistas of Yellowstone National Park and once saw a wild bear.
"We couldn't afford it, but we did it anyway," Brad Snoke said.
Now he feels he knows why. Curtis, 8, and Brittany, 9, died Sunday afternoon
when a pickup truck driven by Donald Wages, 60, of El Paso apparently ran a
stop sign and broadsided their van, driven by adoptive mother Cindy Snoke, who
remains in critical condition at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. A memorial
fund has been established for the family at First Security Bank in Deer Creek.
Wages was hospitalized, but St. Francis refused to release information on his
condition Friday.
Brad said Friday that Cindy has shown some improvement and is more responsive,
though it is unclear whether she knows Curtis and Brittany died in the
accident. The memorial service was videotaped so Cindy can experience it later.
"Cindy, the sanctuary is full," the Rev. Andrew Snoke said to the congregation,
which filled every seat and the upper balcony, and spilled into the outer hall.
"You can't see them, but they're all here to offer their support."
Robert Snoke urged those gathered to take this tragedy as a chance to examine
their own relationships, particularly those with children.
"What if when you leave here and go home, and you look in your mailbox, and you
have a letter from God?" he asked. "And he's telling you, you only have your
children on loan. … Would you do something different?
"I know Brad and Cindy wouldn't."
