Richard W. Schwantes

Richard W. Schwantes, age 83, died Saturday, March 05, 2011 at Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster. He was born March 23, 1927 in Lancaster, the son of Leonard and Myrtle (Burgess) Schwantes. He graduated from Lancaster High School in 1945. Richard married Leona M. Peake on December 28, 1949 at the Bethlehem Evangelical and Reformed Church in Lancaster. His passion was farming and that is what he did for all of his working life. Richard had great compassion for his pets. He was employed at the former Bailey Oil Company and later as a jailer at the Grant County Sheriffs Department. Richard was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and in retirement, enjoyed his daily euchre game at Zippys Brass Rail.

Survivors include his wife, Leona Schwantes, Lancaster; his children: Jane Schwantes, Madison; Rick (Karen) Schwantes, Lancaster; Joan (Jim) Welters, Plymouth, MN; and John Schwantes, Lancaster; his grandchildren: Kristina (Steve) Thompson, Kim (Christopher) Buchta, Katie (Cory Laufenberg) Schwantes, and Jason Welters; three great-grandchildren: Quinten and Amelia Thompson; and Jaicee Laufenberg; his brother, Mark (Dorothy) Schwantes, Beetown; his sisters-in-law, Shirley Schwantes, Lancaster; and Vada Schwantes, Glen Haven; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Roy and twin, Roger; and his sister, Margaret (Gordon) Schneider.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bethlehem E & R Church in Lancaster with Reverend Mark Dieter officiating. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster. Friends and family called from 4:00 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at the Schwartz Funeral Home in Lancaster and on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church. In lieu of plants and flowers, a Richard W. Schwantes memorial fund has been established.