Lyle Schwanke

Lyle Charles Schwanke was born to Charles and Bertha (Pankonin) Schwanke on December 29, 1914, in their farmhouse west of Sanborn, MN. He attended the one room country school in Charlestown Township until 8th grade. Then he had to stay at home to help his dad with the farm work. In 1939, Lyle took over the family farm when his parents moved to Springfield, MN. He met Florence Leibfried in 1940 and they were married on January 15, 1942. They had 3 children. Lyle loved farming and at one time farmed up to 480 acres. He retired at age 62, but continued to help his son Bernel until 2006. A broken thigh bone brought them first to Vista Ridge in Springfield, then assisted living at the Maples, and lastly at St. John Lutheran Home. Lyle was a loving father and husband, a hard worker, and a man of deep faith. He was an active church member, serving in many leadership roles at the Germantown EUB Church and the Lamberton United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School for 20 years and also served as a catechism mentor for young people at church. He was a Farm Bureau member for 50 years and was part of the Board of Directors. He and Florence helped establish a new 4-H club "Charlestown Challengers" and both were club leaders for years. Lyle was very proud of his fundraising for the CROP program - The Christian Rural Overseas Program. He served on the Country School board for 10 years and the Sanborn School board for 6 years. He loved children, and they loved him, so he was "adopted" as a grandparent for the St. John daycare children. He is survived by children - Barbara (Roger) Berggren of New Brighton, Bernel (Delores) Schwanke of Sanborn, and Beverly (Larry) Mullinix of Sibley, IA; 9 grandchildren - Kim, Amy, Lisa, Nicole, Tammy, Mark, Audrey, Laura, and Shari; 15 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren. Lyle was preceded in death by his parents; wife Florence; a great great granddaughter - Alexis; brother Clarence; sisters - Rosela, Luella, Gladys, Mae, Loraine. Visitation 9:30 am - 10:30 am Saturday, January 3, 2015 United Methodist Church, Lamberton, MN 612 Fir St. Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Service Information 10:30 am Saturday, January 3, 2015 United Methodist Church, Lamberton, MN 612 Fir St. Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Interment Information Lamberton Cemetery 2700 125th St. Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152