Michael J Schwahn's Obituary
Michael J. Schwahn October 14, 1928 - May 31, 2016 There will be a memorial service for Michael on Friday, June 10th at 2:30pm at the funeral home Holman, Hankins, Bowker & Waud in Oregon City. Michael, known to everyone as Mike, died of natural causes from a stroke, with his family by his side. Mike was born in Dodge, North Dakota to John Schwahn & Elizabeth Miller, the fourth of ten children. The family eventually settled in Oregon City where Mike was the first to graduate from high school, and where he lived for the rest of his life. At 21 he married Wanda Pressel and was happily married for 39 years until he lost her to cancer. Together they had four children, Kathy Smith, Carol Moffenbeier, Dianna Gould & Mark Schwahn. He wasn't the kind of father to bounce you on his knee or read you a bedtime story, but he would happily teach you how to fix a carburetor or plumb a sink - or do it for you if you'd rather, as long as there was a cold beer waiting when he was done. Mike worked at Publisher's Paper Mill in Oregon City for 36 years, starting on the production line and working his way up to the main office as Transportation Manager. He made and moved a lot of paper before happily retiring early at 55 to hit the road in a travel trailer and do some serious fishing - his life long hobby. After losing his first wife, Mike was lucky enough to find love again at the age of 62 when he met and married Audrey Toll, his dream fishing partner. Together they visited lakes all across the west coast in their travel trailer, fishing and swapping stories with the other campers over more of those cold beers. Sadly, Mike lost Audrey after only 11 years to a heart problem and often said the reason he was never interested in dating again was because he'd gotten so lucky with the first two, he didn't want to push his luck. Mike outlived his entire family except his sister Rosie, who was the baby of the family. He leaves behind his four children, eight grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and many friends who will miss his bad jokes, his lovely singing voice, his terrific dance moves, his magical way with wrench and a hammer, his skill with a fishing rod and his great stories of a wonderful life, well-lived. Say hello to Wanda & Audrey for us, Mike - we'll miss you.
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