Marvin A. Schnabel

August 3, 1932 - August 10, 2024 Fruitland

Marvin Adam Schnabel has gone to his eternal home.  

Marvin Adam Schnabel was born to Emanuel and Barbara Schnabel on August 3, 1932, on their farm in Winner, South Dakota.  He lived there with his parents and sister, Marlene, until he was 14.  They were blessed to have electricity and made their own butter and many other delicious foods. When Marvin was 11 years old in the spring of 1943, he contracted Rheumatic Fever and was too weak to walk.  He was ill for quite some time and missed months of schooling.  He was well cared for by his parents and sister.  His mom brought him smoked herring from town and his sister, Marlene, picked flowers for him every day.  From this illness he developed a heart murmur which prevented him from playing football and entering the Korean war.  Marvin’s love for tractors began when his dad brought home a 1938 Model A.  Marvin could barely make it out of his sickbed to the window to see the new tractor, but he used every bit of his strength to see this exciting new acquisition!

After recovering from Rheumatic Fever, he had his tonsils out.  He was given a small dish of ice cream in the hospital and asked the nurse for more, which he never got. He made up for it throughout his life as he always had plenty of ice cream on hand to enjoy!

In 1947 at age 15 he moved with his family from South Dakota to Lockford, Ca.  He had to travel 12-15 miles by bus to get to high school in Lodi.  He didn’t care for the large size of the high school.  During the summer they moved to Payette, ID were he liked it much better.  However, in January of 1948, six months later, they moved back to Tripp, South Dakota and rented a 160 acre place by the school.  In 1950, after living there for 3 years, they bought that farm.   By then Marvin was 18 and a big help on this cattle farm.

In the winter of 1952, they moved back to Payette, Idaho because of Marlene was suffering from asthma. The doctor advised that a change in climate would be good for her and he was right!  They settled in nicely there on a 20 acre farm surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins.  The began attending Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Ontario, Oregon.

Marvin took a job at Armco in Ontario making concrete pipe and headgates.

In 1954, Marvin, wanting to venture out a little, moved to Seattle, WA with a church friend to work at Boeing--where he would work for the next ten years.  In the winter of 1956 his mother (Barbara), sister (Marlene) and Shirley Schilling along with a few other ladies went to Seattle to visit Marvin for a few days.  Shirley had recently won a camera from a March of Dimes radio contest! Upon returning home, Shirley, began writing to Marvin and sent him photos from the trip.  Their friendship grew into romance through letters and short phone calls.

After Shirley finished her business school training in Spokane, WA they married November 23, 1958, at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Ontario, Oregon. They began their married life in the Seattle, Washington area with Shirley working at Pacific Car and Marvin at Boeing.  Two years later in 1960, Teresa Lynn was born.  Four years later, they welcomed Suzanne Kay to the family. After the birth of Suzanne in 1964 they moved to Nyssa, Oregon where Marvin did some farming.  In 1967, he began his career with Simplot.  Marvin worked as a custom applicator for Simplot Soilbuilders from 1967 until his final retirement in 2013.  He owned several tractors and a truck, and worked long hours to provide for his family.  He enjoyed his work and always came home with a smile on his face no matter how long or hard his day was.

In 1969, Marvin and Shirley bought a new home in Fruitland, Idaho where they raised their two daughters and Marvin was able to live until his death.  Even though Marvin and his family moved around a lot in his younger years, he was a very stable, individual and brought a sense of peace in every situation.

In 2008 Shirley passed away suddenly after nearly 50 years of marriage.  Marvin was back to being a bachelor again.  With the help of his daughter Suzanne and family and nearby friends, he kept active by attending church, bicycling around the neighborhood, helping others, enjoying his grandchildren, spending time with friends, going to the cabin and gardening and cooking for himself!

One day while attending the funeral for a long-time snowmobile friend, he got re-acquainted with Marlene Bork.  She and her husband were part of the same snowmobile group that Marvin and Shirley were a part of in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Marvin invited Marlene to lunch, and they began their friendship, courtship and eventual marriage June 10, 2018.  Everyone was happy to welcome Marlene into the family and she is truly a blessing to us all!

In his retirement years Marvin loved to go to his cabin in Sumpter, OR, ride snowmobiles and four-wheelers, grow a big summer garden, help people whenever he could, and play card games which he usually won.  He had the best smile and a great sense of humor!

He was greatly loved by all who knew him.  He was a man of great faith in Jesus Christ and lived his life with integrity and grace.  He loved his church family and stayed involved with his small group.   

He is survived by his loving wife, Marlene; daughters Teresa (Bill) Drake, Suzanne (Bryan) Nishizaki, 4 grandchildren, Shelby (Gavin), Sharayah (Bence), Daniel (Hannah) and Kate (Tyson), and 5 great-grandchildren; Micah, Genesis, Benjamin, Eliyanah and Ethan.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Operation Mobilization Catalytic Ministries which is part of Marvin’s legacy led by his son-in law, Bill.  This ministry brings the gospel to the least reached peoples of the world through strategically effective ministries such as sports, business, arts, relief and development.  

Donations can be given online at >https://give.omusa.org/om/donate?sc=&fund-id=9197< or mail a check made out to OM with “Catalytic Ministries” in the memo to 455 Castlewood Rd. Tyrone, GA  30290.  

Visitation will be on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Lienkaemper’s Funeral Chapel, 78 N First Ave, Ontario, Oregon  97914

Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 3:00 pm at Christian Life Fellowship 366 SE 5th St, Ontario, Oregon 97914