William Schwab

A celebration of Bill’s life was held at 2:00 p.m., Friday March 5, 2010 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Faulkton with Father Joji Itukulapati officiating.

Bill was the fifth of eight children born to Adam and Anna Mary (Deringer) Schwab on April 14, 1945 in Strasburg, ND. Upon High School graduation he ventured to Minneapolis where he worked with the Bureau of Engraving. In 1971 he married Shirley Benard in Faulkton. Upon moving back to Faulkton, he then became owner and operator of The 212 Café in Faulkton and later founded The Short Stop Bar. After his days in the restaurant business, he became employed with Schwan’s Enterprises where he was able to move throughout the country with his family. His strong love of the Midwest drew him back to Aberdeen, SD, where he lived before retiring to his love of nature on Lake Faulkton.

Bill was an avid outdoorsman who rarely passed up a chance to improve his golf swing or site in his rifle for his next big buck. Many summer days were spent fishing along the shores of the Missouri River or in Canada with his fishing buddies. He somehow always managed to return with a bigger fish story than the last one. Bill had an extraordinary love for hunting dogs, and had a special gift for training them. He spent years devoted to breeding Hungarian Vizsla’s, and it was very rare to see him without his faithful companions by his side.

Bill’s truest love however was for his three daughters and three grandsons. His girls’ will forever embrace the special moments they shared with their Dad; whether it was climbing the tower at Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge, playing cribbage after dinner, learning how to ride the old Honda 50, or simply watching the good ole Minnesota “Twinkies” chalk up another win. The patience he showed while showing his oldest grandson to bait his own fishing hook will never be forgotten. It is with great sadness that he was unable to share those same memories with his youngest two grandsons.

Bill and his family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Golden Living Center in Redfield. We are forever grateful for the constant and compassionate care that Dad was given. Even though we were unable to be with Dad every day, we know that he was always treated with the kindness, dignity, and respect he deserved.

Blessed to have shared in his life include daughters: Sara Rohlfs, Bismarck ND, Amy (Stuart) Nelson, Prior Lake MN, and Rebecca (Mike Makens) Schwab, Sioux Falls SD; grandsons: Brody, Kade, and Samuel; brothers: Tony, Jim (Carrie); sisters: Jean (Gordon) Backhaus, Alice (Jan) Harriman, Levina (Jim) Kaiser, and Karen Banghart, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Welcoming him in Heaven are his parents, his brother Leo, his sister-in-law Eva Schwab; and brother-in-law David Banghart

Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1000 N West Ave, #250, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 or Lakeside Country Club, PO Box 254, Faulkton, SD 57438.

Dad, you are finally at Peace watching over all of us. When we see you again, we know you will have one heck of a story to tell us and it will most certainly be way bigger than the last. We love you Dad, Grandpa, Brother and Uncle!

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Bill’s arrangements.

CLERGY
Father Joji Itukulapati

LECTOR
James Kaiser

OFFERTORY GIFTS
"Grandchildren"
Brody Rohlfs
Kade Rohlfs
Samuel Nelson

ALTAR SERVER
Katie Redden

HONOR BEARERS
Stuart Nelson
Michael Makens
Brody Rohlfs
J.D. Schwab
Cody Schwab

USHERS
Jim Kaiser
Jeff Kaiser

ORGANIST
Laura Melius

VOCALIST
Jerry Bowar

MUSIC SELECTIONS
"Amazing Grace"
"Be Not Afraid"
"Ava Maria"
"Song of Farewell"
"All the Ends of the Earth"