Johanna Marie Schwanz

Johanna Marie Schwanz was born April 30, 1915, the daughter of George and Johanna Iversen Cassens. She passed away Friday, October 4, 2013, at the Denison Care Center in Denison, Iowa, at the age of 98.
Marie was born on a farm near Climbing Hill, Iowa, and received her education in rural schools near her home. After completing her education she worked at a dairy in Ida Grove. She moved to Michigan where she worked as a hired girl doing housekeeping and babysitting. On March 12, 1937, Johanna was united in marriage to Lester Schwanz at the Lutheran Parsonage in Denison by Rev. Frehse. The couple made their home on a farm near Schleswig and were blessed were the birth of three daughters. Johanna was baptized and confirmed on March 10, 1940, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grant Township, Ida Grove, by Rev. Christiansen. In 1970 they retired from farming and moved to town and Johanna worked at the Schleswig Sausage Plant for several years.
Marie was a great housekeeper who enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, even until the time she moved to the Denison Care Center. Baking rye bread and peppernuts were her specialty. She was a very kind person who liked giving baked goods to her family, neighbors or people in need. She enjoyed helping others that needed help from time to time, and caring for her husband. She remembered all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s birthdays. Family meant everything to her. In her leisure time she enjoyed reading, and playing cards as she was a member of several card clubs, and in her younger years, dancing.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lester in 1989; brothers: John Cassens, and his wife, Helen; George Cassens and his wife, Ruth; Henry Cassens and his wife, Hazel; Robert Bumann; and LeRoy Bumann; sisters: Kathryn Schwartz and her husband, Bill; Marguerite Hess and her husband, Donald; Lillian Reese and her husband, Hugo; and Minnie Hess and her husband, Nile; and one brother-in-law, Reed Susie. Survivors include three daughters: Janice Lutz and her husband, Vernie of Kiron; Judy Kragel and her husband, Donald of Ute; and Linda Renaud and her husband, George of Englewood, Colorado; ten grandchildren; twenty-five great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; one sister, Hattie Susie of Cushing, Iowa; and one brother, Al Bumann and his wife, Helen of Sturgis, Michigan; two sisters-in-law, Irene Bumann and Lori Bumann, both of Schleswig, Iowa; one brother-in-law, Wilbert Schwanz and his wife, Lila of Alta, Iowa; other relatives and friends.