Obit: Switlick, Clara T. (1914 - 2009)

 
Contact: Stan

Surnames: Switlick, Meuret, O’Reilly, Merkel, Brock, Reinders, Weigel

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Thur., 21 May 2009

Switlick, Clara T. (16 July 1914 - 20 May 2009)

Clara T. Switlick, 94, of Marshfield died Wed., May 20, 2009, at Allison House Assisted Living, Schofield.

Arrangements are pending at Rembs' Funeral Home (300 S. Oak Ave. - Marshfield, WI), Marshfield.

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----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Fri., 22 May 2009

Clara T. Switlick, 94, Marshfield, died Wed., May 20, 2009, at Allison House Assisted Living in Schofield.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wed. at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, Marshfield, where the visitation will be held Wed. from 10 a.m. until service time. Rembs' Funeral Home (300 S. Oak Ave. - Marshfield, WI) is assisting the family.

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----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Sat. 23 May 2009

Clara T. Switlick, 94, Marshfield, died on Wed., May 20, 2009, at Allison House, Schofield, surrounded by her family and under the care of Aspirus Hospice.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wed., May 27, 2009, at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, Marshfield, with the Rev. Donald Meuret officiating. The visitation will be held Wed. from 10 a.m. until service time at Our Lady of Peace Church where a Parish Council of Catholic Women Rosary will be held at 10:45 a.m. Rembs' Funeral Home (300 S. Oak Ave. - Marshfield, WI) is assisting the family.

Mrs. Switlick was born July 16, 1914, in Marshfield, the daughter of Ben and Mary (Weigel) Merkel and attended St. John's Parochial School. At age 4, her mother died and throughout her lifetime, Clara had vivid memories of dropping a rose onto the casket. She also recalled speaking only German until attending St. John's, walking 31/2 miles to school and working hard on the family farm.

Clara met her future husband, Vincent, through her father who, as school board chairman, hired Vince to teach at a nearby one-room school. They married July 16, 1941, which was coincidentally her birthday, her father's birthday, and eventually their daughter Sharon's wedding anniversary date.

She is remembered as a very hard worker, both at home and in outside employment which included Weinbrenner Shoe Factory, at Jimmies Cafe, and at Roddis (Weyerhaeuser) Veneer Factory, all in Marshfield, from which she retired at age 65.

At home, there was always a huge garden, and Clara spent much of late summer canning tomatoes, beans, pickles, applesauce, plums, raspberries and just about anything that fits into a jar. She was also known as an avid shopper, always looking for a sale, and often buying "one for everyone."

She was a very attentive mother and grandmother. All birthdays and holidays were remembered. All meals were feasts, sometimes with pizza and pork chops on the same table. Family and guests especially enjoyed her butterscotch chow mein cookies and actually ate her fruit cakes.

Religion was very important to Clara, and after moving to town, daily Mass was the norm. She was especially committed to the rosary. She would often say "If you forget God, God will forget you."

She is survived by two sons and a daughter, Don Switlick of Austin, Texas, LeRoy "Lee" (Kitty) Switlick of Wausau and Sharon (Pat) O'Reilly of Neenah. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Gary, Randall, Heidi, Kimberly, Adam, Ryan and Sean; and by four great-grandchildren. She is further survived by three brothers and a sister, Oscar Merkel of Hales Corners, Ben Merkel of Fond du Lac, Rueben (Agnes) Merkel of Marshfield, and Mary (Al) Brock of Marshfield.

She was predeceased by her parents; a sister, Margaret Reinders; and a brother, Alfred Merkel.

The family wishes to extend their thanks to the staff at Allison House for their loving care.