Fred Schwenk

Alois Ferdinand “Fred” Schwenk passed peacefully Tuesday, July 18, at the family home outside of Sandy, Oregon. Born July 6, 1930, Fred celebrated his 93rd birthday prior to his passing. Fred was a native Oregonian that was born and raised in Portland before moving to Gresham and then eventually, Sandy in 1979. Fred graduated from Benson Technical (now Benson High School) where he learned to love the trades including drafting, architecture, and construction. While at Benson, Fred was a member of the 1947 State winning Cross Country team and was inducted in 2001 to their athletic Hall of Fame. Fred was drafted and served overseas in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. Once back home Fred completed draftsman courses and then started a 30 year career in the swimming pool industry, before becoming a licensed contractor in 1976. Fred finally retired at the age of 80.

In true Oregonian style, Fred’s favorite pastime was skiing and he became a regular at Timberline Lodge and Government Camp after his time in Korea, making some of the most amazing friends and memories with some legendary names in Timberline history. It was during these ski years that he met the love of his life, Norma Jean Feusner, in 1963 at a Warren Miller movie. Fred and Norma started working as ski instructors in 1966/1967 in their spare time.

Fred and Norma married in 1969 and became a family with the addition of Todd Ray, Kimberly Ann and then Danna Loreen. The family continued to spend a lot of time on Mount Hood, as the kids took up skiing too. Frequent travel in the motorhome was another family past time. In 1979 the family moved out of Gresham to the family farm in Sandy. Fred felt that his greatest accomplishment was building the house and property that would become Home to the next two generations of Schwenk’s.

Fred would do anything for his family, even embracing the kid’s desire for cattle and horses. He spent the next 3 decades hauling kids, grandkids, and livestock to shows, fairs, and high school rodeos around the state, region, and even the nation. He gladly and proudly watched from the stands and sidelines sharing in everyone’s triumphs and losses, always with a huge hug at the end.

Fred was a man of few words and was very black and white in his beliefs, but he loved most of the kid’s friends that came through the front doors and had no problem sharing that affection. He was always willing to impart his knowledge and expertise and mentored a lot of very capable individuals that spent time around him. His greatest accomplishment he confided was both of his daughters graduating from college with degrees.

Fred leaves behind a very tight, loving family consisting of his wife of 54 years Norma; his son, Todd, (Christine) and their daughters, Sydney and Reagan Schwenk; his daughter, Kimberly Ann Anderson (Jerry Baldocchi) and her daughters, Shayne, Allyssa (Jeff Wong), and Kayley Anderson; and his daughter, Danna Schwenk; his brother, Daniel (& Judy) Schwenk; and sister, Loreen (& Brooke) McCauley; and 12 nieces & nephews. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Alois and Alice (Haslebacher) Schwenk; sister, Loretta (Schwenk) Bayer; and brother, Don Schwenk.

A private graveside service will be conducted Monday July 24th at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, OR. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Fred’s name to either the Sandy FFA Alumni Scholarship (PO Box 523, Sandy, OR 97055) or The Bristol Hospice Foundation at www.thebristolfoundation.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.batemancarrollfunerals.com for the Schwenk family.