Blake Wayne Schowe

Blake Wayne Schowe, 50, of Searcy, Arkansas passed away on Monday, July 12, 2021 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, TN after a valiant fight against COVID-19.    
 
Blake was born in Washington, MO on December 26, 1970, the son of Wayne and the late Elona (Pelster) Schowe, and grew up in Berger, MO.
 
Baptized into Christ and confirmed into the Christian faith at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, he was united in marriage there to Michelle Cunio on September 28, 1996.  They were looking forward to celebrating their silver anniversary in less than three months.  Blake was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cabot, AR.

A proud Bearcat, Blake graduated from Hermann High School in 1989, participating in baseball, basketball, and football… and an ill-fated Senior Skip Party that he may or may not have hosted. He went on to attend Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University), where he met the love of his life in 1991 and earned a degree in International Business in 1993. After graduation, Blake embarked on a career in transportation logistics, working for American Freightways in Harrison, AR and Yellow Freight in St. Louis, MO before accepting a position with Walmart in 2001.  He spent twenty years with Walmart, managing distribution centers in St. James, MO, Red Bluff, CA, and Cloverdale, IN before moving to Searcy, AR in 2010, where he was General Transportation Manager at the time of his death.

An avid outdoorsman, lifelong Cardinals and Mizzou fan, master storyteller, and world-class practical joker, Blake will be tremendously missed by all whose lives were touched as he pursued these interests. He greatly enjoyed traveling with his family, falling just five stadiums short of visiting every MLB ballpark with them.  He loved hunting and fishing with his dad and grandpa and cherished instilling those passions into his children. He took a great interest in youth sports and coached basketball teams for the Upward Sports program in Searcy for many years. Proud of his country and grateful to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, Blake was also actively involved in Wreaths Across America.
 
Blake is survived by his wife Michelle, two daughters Hannah & Gwenyth, and one son Jacob all of Searcy, one brother Brent & wife Julie of Ballwin, MO, one sister Beth Kalimba & husband Joseph of Aurora, CO, his father Wayne & stepmother Pat of Berger, MO, parents-in-law Ray & Carol Cunio of Sullivan, MO, sister-in-law Tina Dowell & husband Roddy of Sullivan, MO, sister-in-law Kelly Fancher & husband Mike of Cuba, MO, brother-in-law Brian Cunio & wife Jessica of Sullivan, MO, and eleven nieces and nephews who dearly love their Uncle Blake: Katie & Nick; Lucas & Clayton; Emily & Natalie; Claire & Clint; Addysen, Harper, & Easton.
 
He was preceded in death by his beloved mother and his grandparents, Lester & Elenora Pelster and Leonard & Carroll Schowe.
 
Visitation will be held Sunday, July 18, 2021 from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home in Hermann. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 19, 2021 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO with Pastor Jim Wilshusen officiating. A recording of the funeral service will be available to those not able to attend the service in person. Following cremation, a second visitation will be held Saturday, July 24, 2021 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Powell Funeral Home in Searcy, AR.  A brief memorial service officiated by Pastor Mark Tooley will conclude the visitation in Searcy.  Memorials may be given to Bethlehem Lutheran Church (New Haven, MO), Our Savior Lutheran Church (Cabot, AR), the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, or Wreaths Across America.