Melvin Eugene Schwab

Melvin Eugene Schwab, 83, member of one of the pioneers of the Columbia Basin, passed away Thursday, June 1 at his home with his granddaughter Sherry Marshall at his side.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, at Kayser's Chapel of Memories. Interment will follow at Pioneer Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday June 6 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel and Crematory, Moses Lake.

Mel was born July 2, 1922 in Dakota City, Neb., son of Ephraim and Rose (Matucha) Schwab. Mel Graduated from the last graduating class of Neppel High School. After serving his country in the Marine Corp he was married to Evelyn M. White in El Central, California on August 3, 1945. They returned home to live in the Victory Homes located in the McCosh area working at Western Cold Storage and at the Home Farm until he bought and developed a farm unit in Block 42 in 1950. The Schwab family lived and farmed the unit raising livestock until his retirement in 1992. Mel and Evelyn raised four children, farmed in Moses Lake area all of their adult lives and found time to travel to a few casinos in their later lives. He always enjoyed participating in the horse shows and gymkhanas with his family and friends, and always with a "Go Man Go" attitude. Mel was also involved with many community committees, such as being chairman of the Grange Coop, ASC Committee, and officer in O'Sullivan Grange, Commander of VFW Post 5926, founder of The Saddle Horns Horse club, and many other local community committees serving the local area.

Melvin was preceded in death by father and mother Ephriam and Rose Schwab, and three brothers, Wayne, Manual, and Ephraim (Sam), along with his wife Evelyn of 57 years, and son Melvin Douglas.

Survivors include a brother Harold Schwab (Opal), Moses Lake, and a sister Louie (Don) Koerlin of Volga S. Dakota. Other survivors include a daughter Linda Schwab of Las Vegas, Nev., two sons Larry (Betty), of Moses Lake and Randy (Bonnie) of Fairfield, Idaho.

Mel was also survived by seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren with special friends of Rueben Ruff, Flossie Cecil, and neighbors in Block 42.