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Dale Allen Schwartz, 54

Dale Allen Schwartz, aged 54, passed away unexpectedly at home on Dec. 30, 2018. Dale was born April 28, 1964, in Spokane, Wash. to Darrell and Karen Schwartz. He attended Coeur d’Alene High School his sophomore and junior year, but finished his senior year at Sandpoint High School, graduating in 1982. After high school, Dale developed an interest in photography, quickly developing a talent for it. He spent the next few years working as a photographer for Norm See Photography, shooting wedding and school photos.

In 1988, Dale married the love of his life, Debi. He spent the next two years getting his associate’s degree at North Idaho College. After graduating he was accepted to the teacher education program at Gonzaga University, where he received his teacher certification in 1993. That same year his son, Jacob, was born. For the next three years he taught primary education in Freeman, Wash.

In 1996 Dale moved his family to Suriname, South America, to teach expatriate children of Wycliffe Bible Translators. After returning home Dale taught primary education at Lakeside Elementary in Worley, Idaho, but it wasn’t long before overseas teaching called him back. In 2002, Dale and his family moved to Sichuan, China to again teach expatriate children. Returning home earlier than expected, Dale was diagnosed with cancer. After radiation treatments he became cancer free, but the side effects of radiation were life altering.

For the next seven years Dale taught elementary and middle school students for both Idaho and Washington Virtual Academies. In 2010, Dale finally retired on disability due to the lasting effects and pain he suffered from radiation treatment. Throughout it all, he kept his passion for golf and travel. Dale loved to travel overseas; he especially enjoyed Vietnam and Thailand and often spoke of permanently retiring in Thailand.

Dale’s love of God strengthened him and moved him to be generous and loving to those around him. Dale is survived by his wife, Debi (Turner) Schwartz; son, Jacob Schwartz; mother and step-father, Karen and Mike Young; father and step-mother, Darrell and Marilyn Schwartz; siblings, Paul Schwartz, Darrin Schwartz, Dave Young, Ken Young and Kathy Jordan; nephews and nieces, Ethan, Dylan, Jacqi, Chad, Randy, Steven, Amber, Jessica and Tony.

A celebration of Dale’s life will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, hosted by Sun City Church, 10920 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley, WA 99206. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Boston Institute for Sight in Dale’s name.

We wish to thank all of our family and friends who have given so much of their time, love and support. If you have short stories, photos or condolences, please post them to Dale’s Facebook page or at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home’s website.