Waukesha Native And Nonprofit Volunteer Remembered

WAUKESHA, WI— Jim Schwaab, a Waukesha native, could regularly be seen volunteering during a Blessings in a Backpack Waukesha County event. The nonprofit was founded in 2012 and provides food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry.

He volunteered not only out of support for his daughter, board President Rebecca Schwaab Melgares, but also out of his love for all children and the community, Melgares told Patch

Schwaab died July 29 at the age of 74.

"He had an extremely soft spot for kids. He thought no kid should ever be hungry and wanted to help. It was a bonus because he could do it with me," Melgares said.

After retiring from a 45-year career as a manufacturer’s sales representative at GR Schwaab & Sons, he volunteered with Blessings in a Backpack. He spent half of the year in Waukesha County and the other half with his wife, Judy Schwaab, in Marco Island, Florida.

Schwaab would help during food distribution at schools or special projects. He was always willing to lend a hand wherever needed and was a tremendous advocate and ambassador for the organization, Melgares said.

"When he was here, he was hauling food to schools with me and doing bag fills. He loved the energy of the bag fills and the kids," she said.

Last summer, Blessings provided food for student lunches. Schwaab and Melgares filled up boxes and took them to Lowell Elementary School. He was thrilled to talk to parents and children who would pick up the food.

"He was always sending the kids off with more stuff. He would see a mom with five kids and would give them 10 bags," Melgares said.

The Waukesha native had a generous heart and a gift for connecting with people, according to his family.

"If he met you in an elevator, he knew your life story by the time the ride was over and would remember it and share it with his family," Melgares said.

Her dad's philosophy was to work smarter not harder, which came from his engineering background. Melgares asked him if he had suggestions on how to make the bag fills more efficiently.

"He said it was pretty impressive and had no ideas to do it better," she laughed.

Doting Dad And Grandpa

In grade school, Schwaab moved to Waukesha across the street from Buchner Park. He first laid eyes on his future wife at the pool. Melgares said her dad would always talk about her mom looking cute running around in her swimsuit. The couple married in 1967 and had Melgares and a son, Jim Schwaab.

"The Waukesha community was always home for him and my mom. They always loved the community," she said.

Judy Schwaab was a homemaker and was active in the Waukesha Service Club when the children were small. Judy and Jim continued their support of the Waukesha Women's Center, food pantries and other organizations in Waukesha throughout their marriage.

Schwaab’s daughter described him as a doting dad. Melgares remembered her dad going on field trips to the Fox River Sanctuary.

"He worked his schedule around coaching and things like that. It allowed my mom to do volunteerism," she said.

Schwaab enjoyed spending time with his children, building snow forts and sandcastles. He also loved to coach.

Schwaab played baseball and basketball at Catholic Memorial High School. He went on to play basketball for a year while attending Marquette University. He played basketball at the local city recreation center until the age of 50.

Schwaab coached basketball teams in middle school and guided Melgares when she coached her kids’ grade school games.

"He was an awesome coach and an awesome teacher, " she said.

Melgares said her father wasn't known as a patient person, but when it came to children, he had all the patience in the world.

"When it came to coaching, he wanted foremost for us to have fun and then wanted us to learn some basic skills. He wasn't trying to create a sports superstar," Melgares said.

Schwaab also loved being a grandfather of six grandchildren.

He attended every sporting event, school activity and birthday party. He taught his three oldest grandchildren how to drive.

He taught his children and grandchildren how to fish with bacon and the proper ratio of peanut butter to butter for a sandwich. Both items were unique to Schwaab.

Melgares said what made him such an amazing parent, grandparent, coach and volunteer was his ability to be both a supporter and participant in everyone's lives.

"He was just a generous spirit and had a loving heart," she said.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Blessings in a Backpack Waukesha Chapter, 2010 Springdale Road, or Wounded Warriors of Wisconsin, W14743 First Ave., Gleason.