Theodore "Ted" S. Schwallie's Obituary
Theodore “Ted” S. Schwallie, age 77, passed away on Sunday, May 12, 2019. He was born on March 31, 1942 to Leo and Dorothy (Schumacher) Schwallie and raised on a farm outside Temperanceville, Ohio. Growing up he worked hard and played hard - a mixture of farm duties, go-kart building, hunting and firecracker pranks. His mechanical aptitude was apparent at a very young age and he attended University of Detroit, graduating with a BA in Mechanical Engineering in 1965. In 1967 he took employment at Continental Motors in Detroit, the start of a 47 year career. In 1975 he transferred to the production facility on Getty St. in Muskegon where he would work until his retirement in 2014. The majority of his career was spent as a program manager of military diesel engines and military vehicles. His career gave him the opportunity to travel extensively and make many friends throughout the defense industry, both at home and abroad. His hobbies included woodworking, snowmobiling and antique farm tractors. In particular, he was known for his passion for John Deere tractors. There was very little he couldn’t fix or problem solve so he always had a project in the works. He loved a good joke and pranking his friends. Ted is survived by his children, Tom (Jennifer Wolfschwallie) Schwallie, Susan (Brian Kwekel) Schwallie; grandchild Ryland Kwekel; his brother Ambrose Schwallie; nieces Jennifer Bryson and Laurian (Bryan) Eckle; and former spouse, Patricia Schwallie. A MEMORIAL GATHERING for Ted will take place on Thursday, May 30, 2019 at The Lee Chapel Family Center, 6291 S. Harvey St. (231) 798-1100 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM. Ted’s ashes will be placed in St. Mary’s cemetery near the former family farm in Ohio. For a more lasting memory, donations in Ted’s name can be made to The Kids Food Basket. Feel free to share a memory with the family at www.sytsemafh.com.
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