This weekend we spent time with family and friends remembering a wonderful man, my father in-law. Sometimes he was serious. Sometimes he was ornery. Sometimes he was opinionated. Sometimes he was quiet. But he was always thinking and planning. Whether it was where everyone would sleep, how the dishes would be loaded into to the dishwasher, where the next trip would be, or what was going on in the political world.
I have always admired his devotion to family and how much time he spent with his children when they were little. I love to hear all the stories Brian and his sisters tell of their days growing up. They did so many things together (making memories) that we will hold near and dear to our hearts.
One of the first family stories I heard was about Dick's "educated toe". It had something to do with his football career. This picture reminds me of that story and how fun it was to hear everyone laugh.
A Grandfather, A Father, A Husband, A Friend, A Honest, Kind, Strong Man.
Schimel, Richard 80 2/12/1929 4/12/2009 Richard Schimel was born in Camas, Wash., the youngest of 10 children, to Emil and Frieda Schimel on Feb. 12, 1929. He attended Camas schools, playing football and basketball in high school. His older sisters were his best and loudest fans at his games. He graduated from Camas High School in 1948. After high school, he attended Portland State University and Western College of Education. In 1951 Richard was inducted into the U.S. Army where he was trained as a radio operator. He was stationed in Germany and spent much of his time chauffeuring officers in his Jeep, seeing many of the sights of Europe. After his discharge from the Army he continued his education at the University of Washington. He graduated in 1956 with a degree in forestry. His first job as a forester was with Crown-Zellerbach in Vernonia, where he met his future wife, Margaret. They were married in 1958, and soon after moved to Portland where Richard began his long career with the Forest Service, USDA. Over the following years, Richard and Margaret had four children and lived in Trout Lake, Wash., Packwood, Wash., and Vancouver. In 1975 he moved his family to Pendleton, where he worked at the Umatilla National Forest until he retired from the Forest Service in 1985. His early retirement years were spent traveling the United States with his wife in a motor home. In his early teens, Richard learned the game of golf from his brother-in-law, Walt, and a lifelong pursuit of the hole-in-one followed. He also enjoyed family camping trips, serving as grill master at family gatherings, and playing with his kids. He liked to record family events with his camera, and Friday nights in the Schimel household were often spent with a slideshow and popcorn. He was an all around good dad and exceptional husband. Richard is survived by his wife, Margaret; son, Brian, and his wife, Cindy; daughter, Susan, and her husband, Don; daughter, Lori, and her husband, Randy; and grandchildren, Taylor, Kylee, Casey and Krista. He is predeceased by his son, Boyd. A celebration of life service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Sunnyside Little Chapel of the Chimes, 11667 S.E. Stevens Road, Portland; 503-659-1184.
A Grandfather, A Father, A Husband, A Friend, A Honest, Kind, Strong Man.
Schimel, Richard 80 2/12/1929 4/12/2009 Richard Schimel was born in Camas, Wash., the youngest of 10 children, to Emil and Frieda Schimel on Feb. 12, 1929. He attended Camas schools, playing football and basketball in high school. His older sisters were his best and loudest fans at his games. He graduated from Camas High School in 1948. After high school, he attended Portland State University and Western College of Education. In 1951 Richard was inducted into the U.S. Army where he was trained as a radio operator. He was stationed in Germany and spent much of his time chauffeuring officers in his Jeep, seeing many of the sights of Europe. After his discharge from the Army he continued his education at the University of Washington. He graduated in 1956 with a degree in forestry. His first job as a forester was with Crown-Zellerbach in Vernonia, where he met his future wife, Margaret. They were married in 1958, and soon after moved to Portland where Richard began his long career with the Forest Service, USDA. Over the following years, Richard and Margaret had four children and lived in Trout Lake, Wash., Packwood, Wash., and Vancouver. In 1975 he moved his family to Pendleton, where he worked at the Umatilla National Forest until he retired from the Forest Service in 1985. His early retirement years were spent traveling the United States with his wife in a motor home. In his early teens, Richard learned the game of golf from his brother-in-law, Walt, and a lifelong pursuit of the hole-in-one followed. He also enjoyed family camping trips, serving as grill master at family gatherings, and playing with his kids. He liked to record family events with his camera, and Friday nights in the Schimel household were often spent with a slideshow and popcorn. He was an all around good dad and exceptional husband. Richard is survived by his wife, Margaret; son, Brian, and his wife, Cindy; daughter, Susan, and her husband, Don; daughter, Lori, and her husband, Randy; and grandchildren, Taylor, Kylee, Casey and Krista. He is predeceased by his son, Boyd. A celebration of life service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Sunnyside Little Chapel of the Chimes, 11667 S.E. Stevens Road, Portland; 503-659-1184.
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