Obituary: Schwab, Michael R.
Age 75
Mike was born October 23, 1939 in Enumclaw, WA to Robert and Maxine Schwab and grew up in Buckley, WA where he graduated from White River High School in 1957.
In 1963 he graduated from WSU with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.
While at WSU he met Janice Ostby in a calculus class.
They married in 1962.
Upon graduation he was hired by GE as a tech grad and then worked in the Hanford area for a variety of employers in the nuclear industry for nearly 50 years.
Mike worked for Battelle from 1965 when they replaced GE until 1971 when he joined the startup of Jersey Nuclear which later became Exxon Nuclear.
After 12 years he was hired by contractors Westinghouse, Bechtal and then Washington Closure Hanford where his nuclear work evolved into Hanford cleanup.
He lived in Richland for 34 years before moving to Kennewick.
Mike is survived by his wife, Jan; two children, Amanda Sanchez and Steve Schwab; five grandchildren, Miles, Jesse, Kala, Alisia, and Adriana.
He is also survived by his mother, Maxine Fleming; sisters, Diane Forgie, Roberta Parlari, Sue Clark, and Trish Squires; brothers, David Schwab and Paul Schwab; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Schwab and brother, Pat Schwab.
Mike was a good guy, a fighter when it came to his health and other important issues and was truly loved.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 20 2014, 2 PM at EINAN’S AT SUNSET GARDENS; 915 BYPASS HIGHWAY, RICHLAND, WA followed by a graveside service at Sunset Memorial Gardens and a reception at Einan’s at Sunset Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (www.LLS.org).
The family would like to thank Columbia Basin Hematology and Oncology, Dr. Arunbhai Patel and his assistant Marlene, Kadlec hospital doctors and nurses and PCM nurses who provided 24 hour daily care for Mike at home.
Please visit Mike’s online memorial at www.einansatsunset.com, and leave a message of condolence.