Mr. Marshall Schwenk died on Feb. 1, 2025. He was born on June 4, 1947, to Elva Jeanette and John Josiah Schwenk, of Red Hill, Pa.
He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara, to whom he was married for 45 years. Also surviving are his son Nathan Toms, of Hagerstown, Md., and his granddaughter, Nichole Toms, of Machipongo.
He was predeceased by his brother, Kirt Schwenk, of Barto, Pa. Kirt’s children, David, Lucas, and Victoria were dear to him.
After graduating from Haverford College in 1969, Marshall taught in a private school for a year and then went to California for a year, working as a line cook in restaurants before going back to a half-way house in Maryland to teach at-risk youth. After leaving the half-way house, he started his own property cleanup business named Snakedrivers and married his first wife, Margiana Stotelmyer. In 1975, divorce ended his business and sent him back to Pennsylvania to figure out what to do next. It was there he met his second wife, Barbara.
His favorite thing was working with his hands. He loved carpentry and forge work. Construction work was his bread and butter, but what he loved most was carving wood and making beautiful sculptures from rare woods he had accumulated over the years.
When he and Barbara moved to the Eastern Shore in 1996, he began renovating and extending an old three-room cabin as his and Barbara’s home on Church Neck. He also built a horse barn, a chicken coop, a huge shop, and several other buildings over the years. He happily made things that his wife requested such as cutting boards, new shelving in the kitchen and laundry, and a unit to store her extensive photo collection.
His greatest joy and accomplishment was raising his granddaughter, Nichole, from the time she was two years old. He loved her company and taught her many things such as archery and how to shoot a pistol, drive a stick shift, and build a fire in the woodstove. He and Nichole went on road trips to see family and friends, and they shared a love of classic rock music — the only music he considered worthwhile.
He was a loving husband, devoted grandpop, and kind to people and animals. He maintained old friendships, some of them from the time he was only five years old, and made many new friends in his home on the Shore. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.
Memorial tributes may be sent to the family at www.hollandfuneralhome.net
Arrangements were made by Holland Funeral Home in Nassawadox.
