Raymond William Schwanz

Raymond Schwanz was born February 19, 1916 in South Branch Township, rural Truman, MN to Albert and Alvina (Mumme) Schwanz. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church-South Branch. He attended parochial school at St. John's Lutheran School-South Branch. Raymond farmed in South Branch Township until 1942 when he joined the U.S. Army Signal Corp. He was honorably discharged in 1945 after serving in Northern Africa and Italy in World War II. Raymond married Paula Schmidt on June 30th, 1946, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Truman. They farmed until moving into Truman in 1989. Raymond entered the Lutheran Retirement Home in August of 2004. Raymond was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church-South Branch where he served as an elder. He was a director of the Truman Coop Creamery and of the Truman Farmers Elevator and he was a member of the Lewisville American Legion Post 561. Raymond enjoyed woodworking and carving. Raymond is survived by his wife, Paula of Truman; one son, Kenneth of Truman; two daughters and one son-in-law, Linda Edwards of Beverly, MA and Sue Wiederhoeft and her husband Neil of Truman; five grandchildren, Jonathan and Brent Edwards and Angie, Emily and Callie Wiederhoeft; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Laura and Oscar Schweppe of Rockford, ILL, Luella and Mike Smith of Spring Lake Park, MN, Marlys and Bob Coplan of Hamilton, WI; two brothers-in-law, Henry Henton of Truman and Jim Schofield of Burnsville, MN; one sister-in-law, Marie Hofmann of Hopewell, VA; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Raymond was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Irene Henton, Arlene Lindsoe and Helen Schofield.