Erma Dire: Community and Family Dedication History

Updated on: August 4, 2025

Basic Information

Early Life & Heritage

Erma DiRe Schnabel, the twelfth of fifteen children in a first-generation Italian family, was born in 1928 in Everett, Washington. She learned hard labor and compassion from her parents and older siblings, who stressed reliance and resilience. She started working as a candy striper in the local hospital at 16 and showed great organizational skills and a knack for consoling patients.

At 20, Erma married briefly and had a daughter named Patty in 1948. Two years later, she married John Schnabel in a tiny Everett wedding on June 12, 1950. This second marriage began a 66-year commitment that included family and business. Erma handled home tasks, part-time volunteer work, and the delivery of three more children in her early marriage, creating a loving and supportive family.

Community Contributions

Cooking Excellence

Erma developed and ran extensive food programs for Southeast Alaskan logging camps, mining teams, and community celebrations from the mid-1950s until the 1980s. She coordinated menus, supply deliveries, and lunch service for 200 workers at isolated camps, preparing up to 12,000 meals per season. Homemade sausages, fresh-baked breads, and seasonal fruit pies were staples of her yearly “Lumberjack Brunch” and “Prospector’s Feast”.

Volunteer Spirit

Erma volunteered almost 5,000 hours for the Salvation Army, schools, and senior centers between 1965 and 1990. In 1972, she started the “Back-to-School Backpack” program to give approximately 300 Haines’ disadvantaged children school supplies. She also tutored primary students in reading and math, mentoring over 50 kids who said her encouragement improved their grades.

Themed Community Events

Local events showcased Erma’s ingenuity. From 1978 until 1990, she dressed in extravagant, handcrafted costumes for Fourth of July parades, from a colonial heroine to a 1920s flapper, drawn by a vintage Model T. In 1983, she started a Halloween haunted-house fundraiser that raised about $12,000 for youth sports leagues. Since 1985, her Polynesian-themed “Luau Night” dinners with live music sold out all 400 tickets in days.

Approachability & Mentorship

All agreed Erma was personable and solution-oriented. She informally assisted dozens of new entrepreneurs, primarily women starting catering or craft businesses, over 40 years. Town council members sought her opinion on community projects. Over 25 local leaders credit her with mentoring them in event planning and volunteer organization.

Spousal Partnership & Professional Contributions

In her marriage to John Schnabel, Erma showed affection and appreciation for his accomplishments. They co-managed a Haines family sawmill from 1950 to 1965, producing 2.2 million board feet of lumber yearly. Erma managed payroll, supply procurement, and worker lodgings, keeping mill operations running smoothly throughout winter.

Erma’s logistical skills were crucial during the 1966 placer mining transition from sawmilling. She negotiated shipping arrangements for large dredge components, oversaw ten supply assistants, and kept lucrative records during unpredictable commodity markets. Erma cared for their growing family while John focused on claim acquisitions and machinery maintenance.

Legacy and Descendants

Parker Schnabel, Erma’s grandson, carries her legacy. Parker, born July 1994, started mining at 16 under her direction. He used a 9-inch dredge on a family claim to find 158 ounces of gold worth $200,000 in his first season in 2010. Parker had his best season ever in 2025, earning $15 million in gold. He mined 6,837 ounces in April 2025, missing his 7,000-ounce objective but breaking a daily average record.

Parker launched Gold Rush: Parker’s Trail in 2018 in addition to appearing on “Gold Rush.” By Season 7 in 2025, he has prospected in six nations, including Serra Pelada, Brazil, and the Klondike. He invested $5 million in Brazil in January 2025 to build two new camps and three dredges before the end of the year.

Since 1990, the Schnabel Family Trust has continued Erma’s philanthropy. The Trust established two $25,000 annual scholarships for Alaskan mining engineering and environmental science students in 2024. Ten scholarships have been offered to students at universities like the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Colorado School of Mines.

Recent Family News

• Global Expansion (2025): Parker Schnabel announced the launch of a permanent camp in Serra Pelada, Brazil, scheduled for completion in December 2025, with infrastructure capable of supporting up to 50 workers year-round.
• Community Scholarship (2024–2025): The Schnabel Family Trust awarded $50,000 in scholarships across two recipients, expanding the program to include an internship component with local mining operations.
• Documentary Release (June 2025): A feature-length documentary titled Legacy of the Matriarch premiered at the Haines Alaska Film Festival, chronicling Erma’s life and her impact on the community.

FAQ

What is Erma Dire known for?

Erma Dire is known for her role as a family matriarch, her exceptional large-scale cooking for remote work camps, and her thousands of volunteer hours in Haines, Alaska.

When and where was Erma Dire born?

She was born in 1928 in Everett, Washington, the twelfth of fifteen children in an Italian immigrant household.

What did Erma Dire contribute to her community?

She organized themed festivals, volunteered at the Salvation Army, tutored hundreds of students, and raised funds exceeding $10,000 annually for local youth programs.

How did Erma support her husband’s business ventures?

She managed logistics, supply chains, and investor relations from the sawmilling era through the early placer mining years, ensuring operational stability and family well-being.

How does her legacy continue today?

Her grandson Parker Schnabel’s mining success and the Schnabel Family Trust’s scholarship program embody her values of hard work, community service, and educational support.

Was Erma Dire directly involved in “Gold Rush”?

Erma herself never appeared on the show, but her guidance and organizational skills laid the groundwork for her husband and grandson’s success in televised mining ventures.

References