Obituary, Christopher Lavern Schwebke, 41

Christopher Lavern Schwebke

Christopher Lavern Schwebke, 41, of La Grande, (Hood River) and (Yakima Washington) passed away on Sunday, December 5, 2021, at St. Luke’s Medical Center in, Boise, ID. from Hemochromatosis, a rare blood disease that is treatable if diagnosed early enough.
Although iron is an essential mineral in many body functions, too much of it can damage the heart, joints, liver, pancreas, and other organs. Several types of disorders lead to iron overload or excess iron, but the most common is hemochromatosis.

There are several types, but one in every 200 to 300 people in the U.S. develops hereditary hemochromatosis, the most recognized form. Caucasian, middle-aged men of Northern European descent and post-menopausal women are most likely to develop the disease.

Physicians diagnose most cases during routine blood work or family screenings. Only about one in 10 people who have the genes for hemochromatosis develop iron overload or damage to organs because of the disease. He was finally diagnosed in July.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Christopher was born on September 16, 1980, in La Grande, Oregon to Marc and Anna (McClure) Schwebke. He resided in La Grande, OR; Hood River, OR and Yakima, WA. He attended grade school in La Grande and attended Hood River Middle and High schools. He married his one best friend and true love, Crystal Dufour.
Christopher was a chef and father of 3 sons. He enjoyed woodworking, building things, helping neighbors, huckleberry picking, cooking, canning, gardening, target shooting and an avid Blazers and Oregon Ducks fan.

Christopher is survived by his wife, Crystal; children, Trenton Schwebke, Skyler Schwebke of La Grande and Brendan Schwebke of North Carolina; parents, Marc and Anna Schwebke of La Grande, Grandmother Cornelia (McClure) German of LaGrande Oregon brothers Kruz Schwebke of Klamath Falls, OR and Tracy Schwebke (Valerie) of Pasco, WA; sister, Maryann Younger (Jeremy) of Springfield, OR; 2 nieces and 4 nephews; great aunts and uncles, Jan and Larry Bayliss and family, Duane and Gay Zander and family; aunts and uncles, Cinda McClure of Kent WA, Jimmie and Lynn McClure of La Grande, OR and Karen and Greg Balmer of Portland, OR and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Jimmie O. McClure; aunt, Ruthie McClure; step-grandfather, Loydd German; grandmother, LaWanna Schwebke and grandfather, Harold Schwebke.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the family to help with expenses through Anna Schwebke at PO Box 1334, La Grande, OR 97850