Richard Schwabe Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Dr. Richard J. Schwabe died at home in Breda, Iowa, on Friday, March 19, 2010 at the age of 76. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, March 24, 2010, at St. Bernard Church in Breda. The Celebrant will be Father Joe Dillinger. Lector will be Jeff Schuler. Gift Bearers will be Alyssa Morrow, Katie Schuler, Rudi Thrasher, Gia Thrasher, Amber Janda, and Karylin Schwabe. Mass Servers will be Kelly Schuler, Maria Cullen, and Kierstyn Bauer. Soloist will be Evelyn Carpenter. Eucharistic Ministers will be Dorothy Heisterkamp, Sherri Dirkx, and Madonna Boeckman. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Dan McDermott, Dr. Don O’Brien, Dr. Jim Pearson, Dr. Norm Hutton, Dr. Dick Carpenter, and Dr. Todd Bettin. Casket Bearers will be Luke Schwabe, Bill Schwabe, Tony Hoelcher, Rob Geier, Dan Schwabe, Dean Schwabe, Russel Schultz, and Joseph Schwabe. Burial will be at St. Bernard Cemetery in Breda. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Breda after 2:30 P.M. Tuesday. A rosary will be prayed at 3 P.M. Tuesday. There will be a Christian wake service at 7 P.M. Tuesday by St. Bernard Parish. Richard was born on June 20, 1933, in Breda, the son of Joseph L. and Ruth (Conrad) Schwabe. He attended St. Bernard grade school and high school in Breda, graduating in 1950. Following graduation, he completed a course in radiologic technology at the University of Iowa Hospitals at Iowa City in 1952 and was then employed at St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll from 1952 to 1958. He was married to Margaret Spilman at St. Joseph Church in Carroll Aug. 21, 1954 and they lived in Carroll until September 1960. From 1958 to 1960, he was employed at the Kuker Clinic. In 1960 he entered Iowa State University in the Pre-Vet curriculum and in 1962 entered the School of Veterinary medicine, graduating with a DVM degree in June 1966. While at Iowa State he was elected to Phi Zeta Society, an honorary for scholastic achievement. He also received the Ival Arthur Merchant Award and the George W. Catt Scholarship. Following graduation from ISU, he was employed by the Dermody & Henning Veterinary Clinic in Breda in a mixed practice including both small and large animals. In 1967 he entered partnership in the practice which eventually was joined by Dr. Richard Carpenter and Dr. Dan McDermott. In 1996 he sold his share of the practice to Dr. Todd Bettin and continued to work part- time until April 2003 for Drs. McDermott & Bettin in what then became the Breda-Lake View Veterinary Clinic. Professional memberships during years of practice included the American Veterinary Medical Assn., Iowa Vet Med Assn., American Assn. of Swine Practitioners and American Assn. of Bovine Practitioners. During his years in Breda, he was a City Council member for 22 years, a member of the Breda Business Club, holding the offices of President and of Secretary, volunteer fireman for 5 years, member of St. Bernard Parish and of its finance committee, Vice President of Carroll County Cyclone Club. In 2003 he received the Distinguished Service to Agriculture award from the Carroll County Farm Bureau. Survivors include his wife, Margaret Schwabe of Breda; children, Steve (Rita) Schwabe of Gretna, NE, Jan (the late Russell) Wolterman of Omaha, NE, Jeri (Jeff) Schuler of Carroll, IA, and Ann (Brad) Thrasher of Bellevue, NE; ten grandchildren include Amber, Luke, Karylin, Bill, Alyssa, Katie, Kelly, Rudi, Ty and Gia; great grandchildren include Sophia, Zackary and Mildred. He is survived by two brothers, James Schwabe (Kris) and Joe Schwabe (Sharon), three sisters, Donna Hoelscher (Dick), Nancy Geier (Orville) and Jean Schultz, two uncles, Alois Schwabe and Jim Conrad, brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim and Pat Scherwenka, Tom and Van Murphy, Sheri Schwabe and Mary Schwabe, 15 nephews and 14 nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Jerry Schwabe, brothers-in-law, Robert Spilman and Byron Schultz; and nephew, Sam Pane. He was extremely proud of his hometown and friends and neighbors there and had requested that memorials be made to the Breda Memorial Park.

Richard Schwabe

June 20, 1933 - March 19, 2010