Cover photo for Dorothy A.  Schwanbeck's Obituary
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Dorothy

Dorothy A. Schwanbeck

d. March 7, 2016

Dorothy Schwanbeck, age 89, of La Crosse, passed away Monday, March 7, 2016, at Hillview Health Care Center, surrounded by her family. She was born in La Crosse on August 16, 1926 to Joseph and Caroline (Schams) Arentz.

Dorothy graduated from Aquinas High School in 1944. She married her high school sweet heart Ralph Schwanbeck on September 1, 1945 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, in Ajo, Arizona. After Ralph was discharged from the Army Air Corps, they remained in Ajo, where their first child Judith was born. In 1947, Dorothy and Ralph moved back to La Crosse, where they had two more children, Jim and Mary, and continued to raise their family.Dorothy was at home with her children throughout their younger years. As they grew older, she went to work at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home in La Crosse, where she was employed for over 20 years, becoming the supervisor of the house keeping department.Dorothy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who always put the needs of her family first. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, playing games and telling them stories from her childhood.Dorothy was a devout Catholic and her Faith in God and the Virgin Mary sustained her throughout her life.

On September 1, 2015 Dorothy and Ralph celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, a joyous day, in the company of their family. Dorothy will be dearly missed.

Dorothy is survived by her husband Ralph, their daughter, Judith ( Gene) King of Dallas, Oregon, their son, James of La Crosse, and their daughter, Mary Carskadon of La Crosse; five grandchildren, Stephanie Ward, Jon (Rachel) Greenwood, Jeremy (Kris) Greenwood, Chris Carskadon and Andrea (Nick) Frkovich; six great-grandchildren, Eli, Isaac, Zoe, Hilary, Sally and Maya; her sister, Marie Kabat of La Crosse; her two sister-in-law’s, Marian Arentz, of La Crosse, and Betty (Clyde) Butterfield, of La Crosse; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her four brothers, Larry, Gene, Harold, and Gary, and one sister, Rita; her brother-in-law Eugene (Leona) Schwanbeck, and her sister-in-law Zita (Joe) Febig.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Hillview Health Care Center in La Crosse for the exceptional care Dorothy received the past three years.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday March 12, 2016, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 130 Losey Blvd., La Crosse, WI. Rev. Peter Raj will officiate with burial to be held at the Catholic Cemetery in La Crosse, WI. Friends and family may call from 10:00 AM until the time of Mass at church on Saturday.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to, Blessed Sacrament Parish, in La Crosse, WI.

 

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