On Tuesday, January 8th, 2019, Heidemarie "Heide" Anneliese McSwain, retired teacher and loving wife of Richard McSwain, passed away peacefully at the age of 72 in Salem, Oregon. Heide was born in 1946 in Heidelberg, Germany to Caroline and Josef W. Schneider. The family, including siblings Wolfgang, Dorothea and Cornelia, emigrated in 1956 to the U. S. Heide graduated from Somerville High School in New Jersey in 1966, and received her B.A. In history from Douglass College of Rutgers University in 1971. She later completed her M.A. In education and had a long career as a special needs education teacher at Garfield Elementary School in Corvallis Oregon.

Heide loved her challenging work with children and their families, and was honored with the Arc of Oregon Teacher of the Year award in 1983. Heide had a passion for life which expressed itself in many ways. She had a life-long interest in learning, whether it meant taking classes for self-enrichment, taking Ukulele lessons, becoming a Marion County Master Gardener, or exploring arts and crafts. With her husband Richard and their many friends, Heide loved to hike, canoe, and travel around the country and abroad. Her passion for living was never more apparent than in her valiant 15-year fight against Multiple Myeloma. Despite her illness and frequent treatment, Heide kept her positive attitude. She was very appreciative of the excellent medical share she received. And she enjoyed her life, friends and family right to the end.

Heidemarie McSwain was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Richard McSwain of Salem, Oregon; brother Wolfgang Schneider and wife Marie of Hillsborough, New Jersey and their children Kurt Schneider and Christine Saus; sister Dorothea Schneider and husband Reinder Van Til of Chicago, Illinois; sister Cornelia Schneider and husband Erik Swenson of Mercer Island, Washington and their son Kai Swenson; and half-brother Willi Schneider and wife Marie-Louise and their son Ralf of Germany. 

Donations in honor of Heidemarie McSwain can be made to Marion-Polk County Food Share. A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Heide's life will be scheduled for later in the spring of 2019.