Obituary printed in Feb. 22, 2005 Pilot-Tribune, Blair, NE; picture in paper

Donald K. Schwab, 86

Donald K. Schwab, 86, of Hooper, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005 at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hooper. Interment with military graveside honors provided by the Hooper American Legion Post No. 18 and Hooper-Winslow VFW Post No. 10535 will be at the Hooper Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, at Spear & Warne-Johnson Funeral Home in Hooper, with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Donald K. Schwab was born Dec. 6, 1913, in rural Hooper to Harry J. and Catherine (Schwein) Schwab.

He attended District 15 School and graduated from Hooper High School in 1936. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was a decorated war hero in World War II. As a First Lieutenant, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts during his tour of duty in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France.

On Sept. 18, 1946, he married Maralee Janssen at Grace Lutheran Church in Hooper.

After he returned from the war, he moved onto the family farm near Hooper. He was later appointed as a rural mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, and worked as a carrier until his retirement in 1980.

After retirement, he could be found playing golf, Euchre, or gardening. His family remembers him as a kind and gentle husband, father, and grandfather who had a special passion for his grandchildren.

Mr. Schwab was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hooper, where he served on the church council for many years and as treasurer for the building fund when the church was under construction. He was active in the Hooper American Legion Post No. 18 and the Hooper-Winslow VFW Post No. 10535; the Elkhorn Valley Golf Club; and was a past member of the Hooper & Logan View School boards and the Nebraska Rural Mail Carriers Association.

He is survived by his wife, Maralee of Hooper; three daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and David Bohling of Blair, Ann and Gelen McCluskey of Leawood, Kan., Mary Ellen and John Beshaler of Arnold; two sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Terry and Kim Schwab of Joplin, MO., and Dr. Rob and Robin Schwab of LaVista; and 16 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by four sisters, Verna Schwab, Esther Row, Anita Artrip, and Mildred Peele; two brothers, Harry Schwab, Jr., and Capt. Virgil Schwab; an infant daughter, Julie; and grandson, Nathan McCluskey.

Memorials are suggested to Redeemer Lutheran Church or the donor’s choice.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Find A Grave Memorial # 34215321