Obit: Sweda, William #3 (1938 - 2016)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bluemel, Janetzke, Kaye, Kowalczyk, Lewan, Paraschak, Roback, Sweda, Terlecki, Wehrman

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 5/12/2016

Sweda, William "Bill" (13 JAN 1938 - 6 MAY 2016)

William "Bill" Sweda, age 78, of Colby, passed away on Friday, May 6, 2016 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital surrounded by his family after a tragic farming accident.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at Holy Assumption Orthodox Church in Lublin. Military honors will be provided by the Lublin American Legion Post #547.

Family and friends are welcome from 4 until 8 p.m. on Friday, May 13 at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford, and Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of service at the church in Lublin.

Serving as pallbearers are John Sweda, Harry Sweda, Jr., Duane Kowalczyk, Scott Kowalczyk, Randy Lewan and Tim Lewan. Serving as an honorary pallbearer is Frank Sweda.

Bill was born on January 13, 1938, the son of Matthew and Anna (Paraschak) Sweda in Lublin.

He attended Lublin Grade School and graduated from Gilman High School in 1956. Bill attended Medford Teacher's College and graduated in 1958. He taught in Thorp until joining the U.S. Army and served for two years. After his service, Bill taught at Holloway Grade School and Pleasant Heights in the Medford area. He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree from UW-River Falls in 1966 and a Master’s Degree in Psychology, Guidance and Counseling at the University of Colorado at Greeley in 1972. Bill taught at Colby Jr./Sr. High School from 1967 until retiring in 1994. Bill also was a coach, referee, umpire and drivers education instructor.

Bill was united in marriage to Judith Stewart on August 20, 1966 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Thorp. They divorced in 2005. He was a member of the Colby American Legion Post #266 for many years and recently joined the Lublin Post. He also was an avid hunter and enjoyed going to community events.

Bill is survived by his three daughters, Kristin (Steve) Wehrman of Chili, Holly Sweda of Greenwood and Jessica Sweda of Colby; and six siblings, Frank Sweda, Katherine Bluemel, Harry Sweda, Nettie (Jim) Kowalczyk, Pauline (Ray) Lewan and Don Sweda. He is further survived by a sister-in-law, Eloise Sweda; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and eight siblings, Andrew Sweda, Mary Terlecki, John Sweda, Ella Kaye, Helen Janetzke, Julie Roback, Steve Sweda, and Joe Sweda.

Family and friends may express condolences online at www.maurinaschilling.com. 

A memorial will be designated at a later time in William’s memory to fill a need for the Colby School District.