DONALD JAMES SCHAB

March 31, 1950 to March 14, 2011

Donald Don James Schab, was born March 31, 1950, in Prosser, Washington, to Andrew and Jennie Schab. A lifetime Benton City resident, Don grew up and attended schools in Benton City, graduating from Kiona-Benton High School in 1968,. He later attended Wenatchee Valley College.

Don was drafted into the United States Army in 1970, serving a tour of duty in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division. One of the highlights of his life was traveling back to Korea over 30 years later to visit his daughter and show his girls the places he's been, marveling over the changes time has brought to a once war torn country. In 1971, Don married his high school sweetheart, Diana Snyder, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

After serving his time in the Army, Don came back home to the family farm where he proceeded to fill his lifelong dream farming. Over the next 30-plus years he established himself as premier producer of alfalfa hay. In 1991, he lost his first wife to cancer and took on the challenge of raising his two daughters on his own.

On March 18, 2000, Don married Cindy Atkins in Leavenworth, WA. Don was a fixture in the stands at high school sports games while his daughters were in school, the farmer with the tractor who would scrape the parking lot on snow days, the guy who loved to show off the '69 Chevelle he restored at car shows, and a loving man who all family and friends will greatly miss. Don was considered by many to be one of the kindest, hardest working, well respected man they have ever known.

In the fall of 2004, Don entered his first float in the Sunnyside Farm Implement Parade where he went on to become everyone's favorite Santa Claus during the Christmas season. Don continued his reign as Santa even after he started his fight with cancer. With the help of family and friends, he was able to continue bringing joy to children throughout the Tri-Cities and Yakima Valley all three years of his illness.

Don passed away on Monday, March 14, 2011, at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle from complications related to his fight with cancer. He was 60. Don fought the cancer right up to the very end, passing away surrounded by the ones he loved.

Don is survived by his wife Cindy; daughters, Jennifer and Jennille; step daughter Addi Daisley (Brian) and their two children; his siblings, Harold (Ruby), Florence (Lloyd), Andrew (Devone), Lorraine, Curtis, John (Kathy), Margret Schab-Davis, Tony (Kay), Ed (Bev), Andrea Schab, and Andy Church; as well as Brian Ohler, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Jennie Schab; his siblings, Marie, Clarence, Raymond, Clemance, Walter, Robert, Betty, and Richard; and by Diana Schab.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful people at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, with an extra special thanks going out to Lynne Allen. They would also like to thank the five lovely ladies who were his chemo nurses at Kadlec Regional Medical Center.

The family will be having a Celebration of his Life on March 26, 2011, at 2 in the afternoon at the Schab Farm in Benton City. In lieu of flowers Don requested that donations be made in his memory to the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation at 7350 W. Deschutes Avenue, Bldg. A, Kennewick, WA, 99336.