Obituary of John W Dewald

Farmer, baseball player, pilot, and great-grandfather, John William Dewald passed away peacefully at home on February 4, 2024, at 87. Born June 22, 1936, in Spokane, WA to Jesse and Pauline Dewald. He was the third of three children raised on the farm, sister Doris, and brother Robert. John was very athletic playing football, basketball, and his favorite sport, baseball. Growing up he loved to show steers in 4-H, his favorite class was Ag-Shop, and after completing Ritzville High School in 1954, he was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies Class D Baseball organization, as a pitcher. He married Louise Anna Scharff of Davenport, on October 14, 1956. After having a strong desire to fly airplanes, he purchased an airplane to fly to spring baseball training on the East Coast and back to Ritzville to help on the farm in the fall and winter. After John became a full-time farmer, he continued to be active in baseball by managing the Tri-Cities farm club baseball team from 1960-63. On October 28 1963, they welcomed a son, Robert Lee. John was active in many organizations including The Ritzville Gun Club, Wheat Growers Association, and Flying Farmers. He cherished attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, concerts, and graduations. He was very proud of his generational family and their accomplishments. John was preceded in death by his father, Jesse; mother, Pauline; brother, Robert; sister, Doris Marshall, and former wife, Louise Scharff Dewald. He is survived by longtime friend and companion, Karen Kagle of 35 years; son Robert (Susan); grandchildren, Travis, Stacey, and Jake (Savanna) and great-grandchildren Russell (11), Coen (4), and Riley (9 mos.). A celebration of life for John will be held at 11:00 am at the American Legion Hall on February 17 in Ritzville, WA. Food and beverages will be provided. Come with an appetite, thirst, and stories. Open casket viewing will be Friday, February 16th from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm and Saturday, February 17 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville, WA. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the organizations he felt strongly about. Donations can be mailed to Ritzville Gun Club. PO Box 334, Ritzville, WA 99169. Memo: John Dewald. Or to the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association. 6601 W. Deschutes Ave. Suite C-2 Kennewick, WA 99336. Memo: PNDSA Memorial Scholarship.