Donald Paul Schwabe, Sr. passed from this life on December 23rd, 2016, surrounded by his family, in Boise, Idaho.
Born in Milwaukee, WI, on March 20, 1935, Don was the 4th son of Anton and Helen (Wisniewski) Schwabe. Don attended St. Peter and Paul grade school and graduated from Riverside High School.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, receiving an honorable discharge in 1963.
He moved to St. Paul, MN in 1958 where he met his wife, Diane Sharon Leavitt. During their 58 years of marriage, Don and Diane raised four children: Jennifer, Virginia, Don Paul Jr., and Kurt. His career in the transportation industry took them to Indiana and Wisconsin, and eventually back to St. Paul. In 2006, Don and Diane moved to Boise, Idaho to be near children and grandchildren.
Throughout his life, Don continued to look for ways to improve himself and make others happy. He loved music, taught himself to play the guitar and piano, and to speak Spanish. While he was jokingly called "Grumpy Grampa," he had an uncanny ability to connect with people (and strangers at airports) and make them laugh. His youngest grandchild is convinced he was the funniest man on earth, and another describes him as "his hero". He will be remembered for always being ready to partake in a game of cribbage, darts, ping pong, horseshoes and chess, and for never allowing a party to pass without organizing the kids to play some game together. Don loved to dance and was the smoothest "cat" on the dance floor. He taught Diane to become the best dancer he ever knew. She always felt he had the most beautiful smile.
Don had a love of the outdoors, particularly camping and fishing, which he passed down to his children and grandchildren. This past year marked the 20th Annual "Fish and Flop with Pops", which included three generations, ample fish tales, and hours of nickel and dime poker.
But perhaps Don's greatest outdoor pleasure was gardening. He loved the fact that his gardens would provide homegrown fruits and veggies for family and friends, tomato competitions with neighbors, habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies, and a sanctuary for himself to relax and, along with nature, create (with the help of a beer, a kohlrabi, and a saltshaker).
Don had a heart for all things living and will be remembered for always rooting for the underdog, and for the beautiful relationships he had with his family. His grassroots way of caring was to provide a place in his home for people in need, stray or lost animals and birds, and even a left over greenhouse plant whose sole purpose on earth was to be someone's hobby.
While Don will no longer be with us as we enter the New Year, his legacy continues to thrive. His family lives each day knowing that the riches of life, in their most valuable form, reside in one's ability to give and receive love, love that is never forgotten and certainly never dies.
Don was preceded in death by his daughter Virginia (2016), and his brothers: Raymond, Norbert, and Jerome.
He is survived by his wife Diane; three children: Jennifer (Steve Gravon), Don Jr. (Heather), and Kurt (Citra); six grandchildren: Anna, Gunnar, Cameron, Audrey, Petra, and Anthony; and Scotty.
Donations may be made to Boise Urban Garden School (BUGS) www.boiseurbangardenschool.org.
Published in Idaho Statesman on Jan. 1, 2017
Born in Milwaukee, WI, on March 20, 1935, Don was the 4th son of Anton and Helen (Wisniewski) Schwabe. Don attended St. Peter and Paul grade school and graduated from Riverside High School.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, receiving an honorable discharge in 1963.
He moved to St. Paul, MN in 1958 where he met his wife, Diane Sharon Leavitt. During their 58 years of marriage, Don and Diane raised four children: Jennifer, Virginia, Don Paul Jr., and Kurt. His career in the transportation industry took them to Indiana and Wisconsin, and eventually back to St. Paul. In 2006, Don and Diane moved to Boise, Idaho to be near children and grandchildren.
Throughout his life, Don continued to look for ways to improve himself and make others happy. He loved music, taught himself to play the guitar and piano, and to speak Spanish. While he was jokingly called "Grumpy Grampa," he had an uncanny ability to connect with people (and strangers at airports) and make them laugh. His youngest grandchild is convinced he was the funniest man on earth, and another describes him as "his hero". He will be remembered for always being ready to partake in a game of cribbage, darts, ping pong, horseshoes and chess, and for never allowing a party to pass without organizing the kids to play some game together. Don loved to dance and was the smoothest "cat" on the dance floor. He taught Diane to become the best dancer he ever knew. She always felt he had the most beautiful smile.
Don had a love of the outdoors, particularly camping and fishing, which he passed down to his children and grandchildren. This past year marked the 20th Annual "Fish and Flop with Pops", which included three generations, ample fish tales, and hours of nickel and dime poker.
But perhaps Don's greatest outdoor pleasure was gardening. He loved the fact that his gardens would provide homegrown fruits and veggies for family and friends, tomato competitions with neighbors, habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies, and a sanctuary for himself to relax and, along with nature, create (with the help of a beer, a kohlrabi, and a saltshaker).
Don had a heart for all things living and will be remembered for always rooting for the underdog, and for the beautiful relationships he had with his family. His grassroots way of caring was to provide a place in his home for people in need, stray or lost animals and birds, and even a left over greenhouse plant whose sole purpose on earth was to be someone's hobby.
While Don will no longer be with us as we enter the New Year, his legacy continues to thrive. His family lives each day knowing that the riches of life, in their most valuable form, reside in one's ability to give and receive love, love that is never forgotten and certainly never dies.
Don was preceded in death by his daughter Virginia (2016), and his brothers: Raymond, Norbert, and Jerome.
He is survived by his wife Diane; three children: Jennifer (Steve Gravon), Don Jr. (Heather), and Kurt (Citra); six grandchildren: Anna, Gunnar, Cameron, Audrey, Petra, and Anthony; and Scotty.
Donations may be made to Boise Urban Garden School (BUGS) www.boiseurbangardenschool.org.
Published in Idaho Statesman on Jan. 1, 2017
Donald Paul Schwabe, Sr. passed from this life on December 23rd, 2016, surrounded by his family, in Boise, Idaho.
Born in Milwaukee, WI, on March 20, 1935, Don was the 4th son of Anton and Helen (Wisniewski) Schwabe. Don attended St. Peter and Paul grade school and graduated from Riverside High School.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, receiving an honorable discharge in 1963.
He moved to St. Paul, MN in 1958 where he met his wife, Diane Sharon Leavitt. During their 58 years of marriage, Don and Diane raised four children: Jennifer, Virginia, Don Paul Jr., and Kurt. His career in the transportation industry took them to Indiana and Wisconsin, and eventually back to St. Paul. In 2006, Don and Diane moved to Boise, Idaho to be near children and grandchildren.
Throughout his life, Don continued to look for ways to improve himself and make others happy. He loved music, taught himself to play the guitar and piano, and to speak Spanish. While he was jokingly called "Grumpy Grampa," he had an uncanny ability to connect with people (and strangers at airports) and make them laugh. His youngest grandchild is convinced he was the funniest man on earth, and another describes him as "his hero". He will be remembered for always being ready to partake in a game of cribbage, darts, ping pong, horseshoes and chess, and for never allowing a party to pass without organizing the kids to play some game together. Don loved to dance and was the smoothest "cat" on the dance floor. He taught Diane to become the best dancer he ever knew. She always felt he had the most beautiful smile.
Don had a love of the outdoors, particularly camping and fishing, which he passed down to his children and grandchildren. This past year marked the 20th Annual "Fish and Flop with Pops", which included three generations, ample fish tales, and hours of nickel and dime poker.
But perhaps Don's greatest outdoor pleasure was gardening. He loved the fact that his gardens would provide homegrown fruits and veggies for family and friends, tomato competitions with neighbors, habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies, and a sanctuary for himself to relax and, along with nature, create (with the help of a beer, a kohlrabi, and a saltshaker).
Don had a heart for all things living and will be remembered for always rooting for the underdog, and for the beautiful relationships he had with his family. His grassroots way of caring was to provide a place in his home for people in need, stray or lost animals and birds, and even a left over greenhouse plant whose sole purpose on earth was to be someone's hobby.
While Don will no longer be with us as we enter the New Year, his legacy continues to thrive. His family lives each day knowing that the riches of life, in their most valuable form, reside in one's ability to give and receive love, love that is never forgotten and certainly never dies.
Don was preceded in death by his daughter Virginia (2016), and his brothers: Raymond, Norbert, and Jerome.
He is survived by his wife Diane; three children: Jennifer (Steve Gravon), Don Jr. (Heather), and Kurt (Citra); six grandchildren: Anna, Gunnar, Cameron, Audrey, Petra, and Anthony; and Scotty.
Donations may be made to Boise Urban Garden School (BUGS) www.boiseurbangardenschool.org.
Published in Idaho Statesman on Jan. 1, 2017
Born in Milwaukee, WI, on March 20, 1935, Don was the 4th son of Anton and Helen (Wisniewski) Schwabe. Don attended St. Peter and Paul grade school and graduated from Riverside High School.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, receiving an honorable discharge in 1963.
He moved to St. Paul, MN in 1958 where he met his wife, Diane Sharon Leavitt. During their 58 years of marriage, Don and Diane raised four children: Jennifer, Virginia, Don Paul Jr., and Kurt. His career in the transportation industry took them to Indiana and Wisconsin, and eventually back to St. Paul. In 2006, Don and Diane moved to Boise, Idaho to be near children and grandchildren.
Throughout his life, Don continued to look for ways to improve himself and make others happy. He loved music, taught himself to play the guitar and piano, and to speak Spanish. While he was jokingly called "Grumpy Grampa," he had an uncanny ability to connect with people (and strangers at airports) and make them laugh. His youngest grandchild is convinced he was the funniest man on earth, and another describes him as "his hero". He will be remembered for always being ready to partake in a game of cribbage, darts, ping pong, horseshoes and chess, and for never allowing a party to pass without organizing the kids to play some game together. Don loved to dance and was the smoothest "cat" on the dance floor. He taught Diane to become the best dancer he ever knew. She always felt he had the most beautiful smile.
Don had a love of the outdoors, particularly camping and fishing, which he passed down to his children and grandchildren. This past year marked the 20th Annual "Fish and Flop with Pops", which included three generations, ample fish tales, and hours of nickel and dime poker.
But perhaps Don's greatest outdoor pleasure was gardening. He loved the fact that his gardens would provide homegrown fruits and veggies for family and friends, tomato competitions with neighbors, habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies, and a sanctuary for himself to relax and, along with nature, create (with the help of a beer, a kohlrabi, and a saltshaker).
Don had a heart for all things living and will be remembered for always rooting for the underdog, and for the beautiful relationships he had with his family. His grassroots way of caring was to provide a place in his home for people in need, stray or lost animals and birds, and even a left over greenhouse plant whose sole purpose on earth was to be someone's hobby.
While Don will no longer be with us as we enter the New Year, his legacy continues to thrive. His family lives each day knowing that the riches of life, in their most valuable form, reside in one's ability to give and receive love, love that is never forgotten and certainly never dies.
Don was preceded in death by his daughter Virginia (2016), and his brothers: Raymond, Norbert, and Jerome.
He is survived by his wife Diane; three children: Jennifer (Steve Gravon), Don Jr. (Heather), and Kurt (Citra); six grandchildren: Anna, Gunnar, Cameron, Audrey, Petra, and Anthony; and Scotty.
Donations may be made to Boise Urban Garden School (BUGS) www.boiseurbangardenschool.org.
Published in Idaho Statesman on Jan. 1, 2017
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