Obit: Schwarze, Vern H. (1949 - 2007)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Schwarze, Hintz, Hardrath, Cloud, Gullixson, Fischer, Szep, Hanousek

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald; August 11, 2007
 

Vern H. Schwarze

SPENCER -- Vern Howard Schwarze, 57, town of Unity, died Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007, from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident in Marathon County.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Spencer. Full military rites will be conducted by the Stratford VFW.

Visitation with family and friends will be from 12:30 p.m. until service time Sunday at the church.

Maurina/Community Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

He was born Nov. 13, 1949, in Neillsville to Orlin and Bernice (Hintz) Schwarze. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, receiving the combat infantry badge, parachute badge and the Army Commendation Medal in 1969. He married Luanne Hardrath on Sept. 11, 1971. He was employed with Land O Lakes in Spencer for 24 years, retiring in 1999.

He is survived by his wife, Luanne Schwarze of Unity; two daughters, Penni (Anthony) Cloud and Joy Schwarze, both of Unity; one son, Eric Schwarze of Hanford, Calif.; one grandchild; three sisters, Lila Gullixson of Madison, Ardith (Henry) Fischer of Owen and Marion (Frank) Szep of Lisbon; and his brother, Lynn Schwarze of National City, Calif.

#2. Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers; Posted August 10, 2007

Unity man killed in crash 

A 57-year-old Unity man died Thursday morning following a single-vehicle crash on Eau Pleine Road near Highway 13 in the town of Spencer, according to the Marathon County Sheriff's Department.

The man, Vern H. Schwarze, was driving a pickup truck eastbound on Eau Pleine Road at about 9:45 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle, said Sheriff's Department Lt. Frank Hanousek. The vehicle entered the ditch and overturned, and the driver suffered fatal injuries, he said. Schwarze was the only person in the vehicle.

Investigators are not sure what caused his vehicle to leave the roadway, Hanousek said.

Schwarze was the 16th person killed on Marathon County roads this year.
 

 

Vern was buried in his military uniform with all of his medals in place.  The altar was filled with flowers and church was over-flowing with those expressing their condolences.  "Amazing Grace" was played on bag pipes by Mike Byers as the service began.  The hymns were, "On Eagle's Wings" and "Here, I am Lord."  All three of his children were present with their mother.  His sisters Lila Gullixson of Madison, Ardith (Henry) Fischer of Owen and Marion (Frank) Szep of Lisbon were also in attendance, but his brother, Lynn was unable to attend because of a pending surgery.  During the service, the minister mentioned that Vern had just completed a 2 yr. "Lay Ministers" course and that he also taught Sunday School.  She also noted his battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD¹).  Vern had suffered with the memories of having his best buddy die in his arms following an injury during battle.  A military salute followed the ceremony and a luncheon of salads, sandwiches and deserts was served in the fellowship hall of the church.

 

Memories

 

During the Military Honors, we looked up and above the large cross on the church was a perfect circle of clouds.  What a beautiful site and I will never think of Vern without remembering it.  Janet Schwarze

 

¹(PTSD) is the term used to describe a severe and on-going emotional reaction that results from exposure to extreme stress and / or trauma.[1] Clinically, such events involve actual or threatened death, serious physical injury, or a threat to physical and/or psychological integrity, to a degree that usual psychological defenses are incapable of coping with the impact.