Marie Schwanz

Marie Helen Schwanz was born November 19, 1924, the daughter of Otto and Esther Ahlquist Dose. She passed away Thursday, January 26, 2012, at the Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, Iowa, at the age of eighty-seven.
Marie was born in Holly Springs, Iowa, and raised on the farm in Woodbury County. Marie was baptized on September 29, 1925, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton, Iowa, and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ida Grove, Iowa. She received her formal education in the public schools and was active in her church and the Lutheran Walther League. Marie married Paul Louis Schwanz on February 23, 1947, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ida Grove, Iowa, and to this union was born three daughters - Paula, Laura
Lee, and Marylou. The couple celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary last February.
Marie was a hostess at Bishops Restaurant in Sioux City, Iowa; and Dreyers Bakery in Ida Grove, Iowa. She was a farm wife who loved the farm and everything connected with it, especially driving the little Ford tractor. She worked beside her husband Paul all her life as they farmed for 35 years. When you saw one you usually saw the other. When her daughters were young she was a Sunday school teacher, Brownie and Girl Scout leader. After retiring from the farm, Marie worked for Earl May in Denison. Marie and Paul were evening custodians at Denison Job Corps Center, United Bank of Iowa, and Norwest Bank all in Denison. She and Paul mowed the grounds at Zion Lutheran Cemetery for thirteen years. Marie was a dietary aide at Eventide Lutheran Home for fourteen years. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Zion Lutheran Ladies Aid. She and Paul were also members of the Circle and Swing Square Dance Club.

Marie was a kind hearted, hardworking wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Family was important to her. She loved reading, the outdoors, fishing, flowers, gardening and animals. She knew the names of flowers, birds and animals, and would quiz her family on any and all. Many stray animals found their way into her life and always found a home. She named all the animals on the farm and in town. After a long day of mowing yards, working in the cemetery, or taking care of the yard, you could see her and Paul sitting on the porch swing, swinging peacefully, trying to cool off. She would have a black raspberry malt in one hand, a cat on her lap, and a dog or two on the steps. Marie was strong in her faith and read the Bible and Portals of Prayer every day.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Leroy; two grandchildren, Teresa and John Paul; one son-in-law, Paul; mother and father-in-law, Andrew & Johanna and Bessie; brothers and sisters-in-law, Leslie; Robert; Gracie; Ed and Louise; Clarence and Irene; Lester; Harry and Mildred; Sally and Carl; LeRoy and Pearl; Dorothy and Donovan.
Survivors include her husband, Paul of Denison; three daughters, Paula and her husband, Douglas; Laura Lee; and Marylou; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two sisters: Eileen; and Darlene; two sisters-in-law: Helen Dose; and Marie J.; brother-in-law, Wilbert and his wife, Lila; other relatives and friends.