Rev. Dennis Schwab

August 27, 1948 – March 30, 2022

Rev. Dennis Schwab was born August 27, 1948 to Henry Louis Schwab and Hazel Henroid Schwab in St. Louis, Missouri.  He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church where he later attended grade school.  He attended Lutheran South High School and would go to serve as President of St. Johns’ Walther League.  While working to pay his way through college, Schwab completed his first two years at St. Paul’s Lutheran College in Concordia, Missouri, a junior college at the time.  He then attended Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward, Nebraska, where he met his beautiful wife, Sarah “Sally” Preus and graduated in 1970.

On August 1, 1970 Schwab and Sally were united in married at Grace Lutheran Chapel in Bellefontaine Neighbors.  They moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where the then Mr. Schwab had been called to teach fifth and sixth grades at Immanuel Lutheran School.  While in Memphis, Schwab received his Masters degree in guidance and counseling from Memphis State University.  While Schwab loved teaching, he increasingly felt called to enter the ministry as a Pastor. In the summer of 1975, the family moved to St. Louis where Schwab attended Concordia Seminary while Sally taught at Salem Lutheran School in Black Jack.  In 1977  he was called to Faith Lutheran Church in Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, where he served as vicar and then pastor.

In 1981, Rev. Schwab accepted a call to Knoxville, Tennessee to serve at Grace Lutheran Church.  The family moved to St. Charles, Missouri in 1986 when Rev. Schwab was called to serve at Zion Lutheran Church.  There they settled in among a church family that would become a spiritual home for the rest of their years. They were active in Bible studies, Sunday school, Lutherans for Life, the music ministry, and were steadfast sausage supper volunteers. Rev. Schwab helped form Cancer Companions at Zion. They sent their children to Zion Lutheran School and Lutheran High School St. Charles.  Rev. Schwab was honored to serve on the Board of Regents of Concordia Seminary St. Louis towards the end of his career. Rev. Schwab retired as head pastor in 2010 to spend more time with Sally, working part time visiting the sick and shut-in until 2019.

Rev. Schwab's love for the Lord and for the Lord’s people was evidenced daily in every aspect of his life and ministry.  He and Sally took much joy in their loving family.  His patience, kindness, joy, and optimistic spirit nourished the souls around him. With a true servant heart, he patiently cared for Sally through her health issues for many years at the end of her life. He was curious, patriotic, and adventurous. He loved to travel, but the family retreat at Gunflint Lake always held a special place in his heart.

Rev. Schwab is preceded into glory by his wife Sally.  He is survived by his children and grandchildren, brother Don and his wife Patsy Schwab, sister Diane Schwab, in-laws Gerhard and Patricia Bode, George and Delpha Harris, Peter and Carolin Schmidt, Mark and Idella Moberg, Bill and Mary Churchill, Jack and Sherry Preus, and Steve and Peggy Jones, and many nieces and nephews and cousins. His love, kindness, and joyful spirit will be missed by all.

Memorials may be made in Rev. Schwab's name to Zion Lutheran Church, School Endowment Fund Harvester, or Lutherans For Life, St. Charles Chapter.

Service Arrangements:
April 9, 2022
Zion Lutheran Church, St. Charles, MO

Visitation: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Funeral Service: 12:00pm
Internment to follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery