Ralph Ernest Schwab

Ralph Ernest Schwab, 83, of Gallatin Gateway, Montana, passed away Tuesday, June 13, 2013. He was born March 24, 1930 in Waterloo, Iowa to John and Erna (Busch) Schwab, German immigrant parents. His first language was German. Ralph grew up in Waterloo, joined the US Army at 17, which fulfilled his desire to travel and see the world. During his 21 years he served in Korea in 1952 just before the war started. Ralph married Ellen on May 7, 1955. They traveled together to his new assignment in Baumholder, Germany. He met all of his father’s family still living in Germany and enjoyed them because of his language skills. 1957 to Fort Hood, Texas. 1960 - 1964 back to Furth, Germany. 1961 daughter Kathy was born about 30 miles from where her Grandfather Schwab was born. 1964 - 1965 assigned to Letterman General Hospital for Physician’s Assistant training. 1966 in Vietnam assigned to an Engineer Battalion as a Physician’s assistant. 1967 assigned to a Hospital in White Sands, NM. He retired in 1968. After his retirement from the Army, Ralph served as a Postal Carrier for 22 years in Davis, California. In 1986 Ralph retired from the U.S. Post Office and in 1989 was able to realize a dream of moving to Montana. Ralph loved the mountains, was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and fisherman and enjoyed cutting firewood for the wood stove. Ralph was an avid reader and history buff with an amazing gift of recall. He will be remembered for his fantastic memory and everyone loved his many stories. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Erna Schwab and a brother Gilbert. Survivors include: his wife Ellen (Oesterle) Schwab of Gallatin Gateway; daughter Kathleen (Greg) Bolton of Woodland, California; Sister Helga (Larry) Beard; many nieces and nephews; and many good faithful friends who traveled many miles to come see him. A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, June 18th, 2013 at Fort Harrison National Cemetery in Helena, Montana. A Memorial service will be held in Waterloo, Iowa at a later date. Memorials may be made in his name to the Salvation Army or to the Hub City Humane Society, 95 Jackson Rd, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39402.