Doris Schwank

Doris Eileen Schwank was born on March 9, 1951 in Newberg, Oregon, daughter of Robert Archie Nelson and Margaret Wilma (Stonebreaker) Nelson. She passed peacefully into the arms of God on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 after a 7 year battle with breast cancer. She was a true symbol of hope and courage to all of those who knew her.

She was an Oregon Scholar and co-valedictorian at Yamhill-Carlton Union High School and graduated from Bassist Fashion Institute with a degree in Retail Merchandising. She attended the University of Oregon for one year. It was there that she volunteered to be a research subject for a U.S. Army high altitude study atop Pike's Peak, Colorado, where she met and later married a Spec 5 soldier named Don Schwank in San Marcos, Texas in 1971. Doris and Don shared 46 years of marital bliss. She always felt being a good wife and mother were her highest callings.

After raising two fine sons, Ben and Bob, she became a rural carrier for the U.S. Post Office for 2 years in Brazoria, Texas. She moved to Switzerland with Don for his overseas assignment with Dow Chemical, Europe in 1994. Shortly after returning to Texas she followed her life-long passion for sharing the benefits of good nutrition and became the manager of the Peak Nutrition store in Lake Jackson for the next 10 years, helping hundreds of loyal customers who fondly referred her as "Dr. Doris."

She was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in 2011. Her valiant courage, hope, and faith helped her survive numerous operations and lots of chemo therapy and radiation. She was an inspiration to hundreds of people who saw her story unfold on Caring Bridge over the past 7 years.

Doris is survived by her husband, Don, and two sons, Benjamin Cody and wife Melanie Schwank and Robert Louis and wife Lindsey Schwank. Also able to share her life for many bonus years are 5 grandchildren, Kenedy, Jackson, Logan, Cooper, and Parker, who were her pride and joy. She used all her available energy to watch them grow up and participate in baseball, cheer, and family gatherings. She is also survived by a sister, Cathe Wolters and her children, Craig DeBon and Stephanie Gengler.

A memorial service and celebration of Doris' life will be held at the Christ Lutheran Church, 86 Plantation Drive in Lake Jackson, Texas on Saturday, August 25th, 2018. The service will be held at 2:00 p.m. with the family receiving guests beginning an hour before and also following the service.

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