Michael Jason Schweitzer

Michael J. Schwietzer, 35, of Talent, Oregon passed away on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 in a single vehicle accident on mountainous highway 3 between Yreka and Ft. Jones, California. He was returning to his Talent home after work on his Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycle. Michael was born on March 17, 1973 in Decatur, Illinois the son of Frank and Flora Schweitzer. He married Lea Chace Jaeger in Ashland, Oregon on April 26, 2008 and had just returned from a honeymoon in St. Lucia. Michael graduated from Taylorville High School in Taylorville, Illinois in 1991. He graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1995 with a bachelor of science in zoology, after which he had a 10 year career with the United States Forest Service, beginning in the Flathead National Forest in Montana. He worked for the Klamath National Forest beginning in May, 2002 working on and managing hot shot fire crews to fight forest fires from the ground and the air. In 2007 he was promoted to the position of Fuels Captain and planned and managed controlled burns and other forest restoration projects. In between he spent time with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Boulder, Colorado forecasting weather in space. He was a deeply committed fan of the St. Louis Blues hockey team and enjoyed playing soccer and running marathons. He and his bride Lea ran in the 2008 Pear Blossom 10 mile run. We love you Michael. We will miss you. Michael is survived by his wife Lea Schweitzer of Talent, Oregon, his parents Frank and Flora Schweitzer of Salem, Missouri, his brother Scott Schweitzer (wife Tonya, children Austin and Kasha) of Lebanon, Tennessee and sister Kristin Schweitzer (husband David, children Benjamin and Wolf) of Sierra Vista, Arizona, and in-laws Charles and Susan Jaeger of Rogue River, Oregon and Cynthia and Frank Prazma of Tampa, Florida Preceded by Grandparents, Howard & Flodine (Etherton) Jenkins. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home in Marion with Rev. Frankie Pierce officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 10:30 A.M. until the time of service at the funeral home. Memorials are welcome for the Michael J. Schweitzer Foundation and will be accepted at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home.