Erwin Schwartz

Erwin Henry Schwartz was born February 7, 1924, in Springfield, MN, the son of William and Amanda (Ringle) Schwartz. He attended country school and then graduated from Sanborn High School. Erwin was inducted into the U.S. Army in November of 1944 and served in the Philippines and Japan. He was trained as a paratrooper and mail carrier and was honorably discharged in 1946. Erwin was united in marriage to Jo Ann Winkelmann on December 9, 1952 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Springfield. The couple farmed and raised livestock in North Star Township. Erwin was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Sanborn and served on the church board and the Parochial School Board. He also served on the boards of Farmers Union and the Springfield Co-op Creamery, and was a member of Colburn American Legion Post #286 in Sanborn. Erwin enjoyed farming, wine-making, riding his 4-wheeler, the outdoors, and visiting with friends. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Erwin Henry Schwartz died Friday, August 24, 2007, at St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield at the age of 83 years. He is survived by children- Jim and wife Mary-Anne Schwartz of Watertown, WI and their children Ruth (Pastor Paul) Jansen, Jim, Jr. (Lisa) and their children Lily and Joanna, Rebecca and John; Jeff Schwartz of Shevlin, MN; Brian and wife Kristine Schwartz of Winthrop and their children Joshua, Rachel (Nick) Meyer, and Clarrissa; Mike and wife Teresa Schwartz of Sanborn; Lorne and wife Jeannie Schwartz of Sanborn and their children Savanna and her child Tyler; Kyle, Cody, and Katie; Cindy and husband Matthew Diersen of Brookings, SD and their children Benjamin, Victoria, Nicholas, and Alexander; and Chad and wife Elizabeth Schwartz of Winthrop and their children Cole and Kaleb; daughter-in-law- Karen and husband Ralph Pabst of Sanborn and her children Jason (Aimee) Schwartz and their children Ethan and Jacob, and Melissa (Justin) Robertson; and sisters-in-law- Norma Winkelmann and Elsie Schwartz. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife- Jo Ann in 1997; son- Steve in 1983; brother- Melvin; and brother-in-law- Eugene Winkelmann.