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In Memoriam: Joseph Robert Schwab (March 13, 1941 – Aug. 25, 2021)

Joseph Robert Schwab passed away peacefully in his home on Aug. 25, 2021 at age 80 after a brave fight with cancer. He was surrounded by his wife of 59 years, Evelyn, and his three children, Greg, Kris and Tom. Joe was literally and figuratively larger than life. 

After serving his country for eight years in the Air Force, he became a dedicated Oregon State Police Trooper and Game Warden in 1969 and had a career that spanned 25 years, retiring as a Lieutenant in 1994. 

Joe was well known for his work on the Columbia River fisheries and loved to tell stories about his adventures both on the river and in the woods. He eventually turned his stories into a series of books Outlaws on the Big River, Outlaws in the Big Woods, and Big River, Big Woods, Big Games about his time as Game Warden enforcing Oregon fish and wildlife laws. 

After his retirement in 1994, Joe decided to move north to Alaska and along with Evelyn, purchased a fishing lodge in Clam Gulch on the Kenai Peninsula.He guided fishing trips on the rivers and open waters of Alaska for six years before deciding to return to Oregon, then to Arizona, and back to Oregon for his final years, settling in Mount Angel, Oregon, the town where he was born 80 years ago. 

Joe will be remembered by those who knew him as a tough, gentle giant of a man who dearly loved his wife; his three children; daughters-in-law, Lisa and Julie; Kris’ partner, Bruce; and his four grandchildren, Anna, Matt, Jakob and Catherine. 

Services for Joe are pending for early spring 2022. Assisting the family is Unger Funeral Chapel – Mt. Angel.