Obituary of Philip Schnabel

Philip Mansfield Schnabel, 92, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2013 in Eugene Oregon. Phil was born on November 10, 1921, in Lewiston, Idaho to Philip and Angie Schnabel, and grew up there along with his brother, Jim, and sister, Frances. They were all on hand to welcome Phil to his new life. His own seven grown children enjoyed many opportunities to spend time with him during the final months of his life in Eugene, each one declaring to be his favorite son or daughter. A member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, Phil graduated from the University of Idaho in 1944. The US military preferred to leave Phil on the civilian side given the importance of chemical engineering expertise through the war effort. He spent the majority of his career as a chemical engineer in the northwest's pulp and paper industry between Lewiston, ID, St. Helens, OR, Port Townsend, WA, Eureka, CA and Halsey, OR. He moved his family to Eugene in 1968. He married Joyce Lattig, another Idaho native, on June 10, 1945. He was Joyce's chemistry tutor and a distinguished clarinet player at the University of Idaho, which was too much for her to resist. Never one to procrastinate, Phil went to work and fathered 8 children over the following fourteen years. Steven, his third son, pre-deceased Phil in 1956. Phil retired from American Can Company in 1985. He and Joyce enjoyed a few trips to Hawaii and then settled into the "snow bird" life between Eugene OR and Casa Grande, AZ. Phil took up distance running in the '70s and enjoyed many long runs with each of his kids. Butte to Butte In Eugene was one of his favorite road races. Phil leaves behind an incredible legacy of love: his wife of 67-1/2 years, Joyce; each of his favorite kids and their spouses: Craig (Irene), Gary (Tammy); Carol; Joan (David ); Mary (Barry); Joseph (Judy); and Michael; 13 beautiful grandchildren and 6 incredibly awesome great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either St. Jude Catholic Church or St. Mark Catholic Church.