Mary E. Schwanz, age 78 years, of Portage passed away surrounded by family on Thursday, July 5, 2012 after a brief battle with cancer at Tivoli Care Center. Mary was born on November 12, 1933 in New Haven, WI; she was the eighth child of the 16 children of Irving and Martha (Plutowski) Griffin. After graduating from 8thgrade in a one room school in Big Springs, she attended St. Francis Academy in Milwaukee. Mary was united in Holy Matrimony to Donald H. Schwanz of Lewiston Township, Wisconsin on January 19, 1952 in Portage. They moved to Bensenville, Illinois in 1959 where they raised their four children. Mary embraced her life in Bensenville and was active in the community. She started the Bensenville Boys Athletic Association (BBAA) cheerleading squad on a shoestring budget sewing all of the cheerleader's skirts. She also raised funds for the BBAA by running the concession stand at Little League games. She was an active auxiliary member of the Bensenville VFW. Mary and Don returned to Lewiston Township, Wisconsin in 1996. After returning to Wisconsin Mary continued to be active in fundraising and hosted several events to raise funds for the Special Olympics, member of St. John's Lutheran Church and auxiliary member of the Gideon's. Mary loved fishing, playing Euchre, enjoyed traveling and was blessed to have had the opportunity to travel to many foreign countries and throughout the United States during their 60 years of marriage. Mary dedicated her life to her family, friends and anyone who needed a helping hand. Her love for her family was demonstrated daily, loved babysitting for her grandkids and she faithfully attended family Reunions. Mary is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Donald Schwanz; her daughters Donna (Scott) Jones and Dana (Randy) Schwanz-Vesely of Wisconsin Dells; Diana (Tim) Shebel of Portage; her siblings Delia Wenkman of Oxford, Margaret (Ted) Cartwright of Green Bay, John (Phyllis) Griffin of Mauston, Helen (Fred) Cox of Fort Atkinson, Esther (Sam) Bingham of Downers Grove, IL, Deloris (Tom) Hilgendorf of Portage, Mike (Evelyn) Griffin of Imperial Beach, CA, Pat (Mary) Griffin of Wisconsin Dells, Dennis (Guadalupe) Griffin of Yuma, AZ, Barbara Buye of Lyndon Station, Tom (Karen) Griffin of Galena, IL, Jeanette (Wayne) Phillips of Oxford; her grandsons Christopher Jones, Scott (Tanya) Jones, Nicholas (Tracie) Jones, and Randy Vesely and Casey Schwanz; her nine great-grandchildren and her beloved companion, Buddy. She was preceded in death by her son Donald H. Schwanz, Jr; her brothers Robert and Jim Griffin and sister Geraldine Griffin. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 9, 2012 at 11:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church, Portage with Rev. Alan Boeck officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery, Portage. Friends may call at the Picha Funeral Home, Portage on Sunday from 2 - 5 PM and at the church on Monday from 10 AM until 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church. Service Details. Visitation
Picha Funeral Home Portage
302 East Conant St.
Portage, WI 53901
Sunday, July 8, 2012 2 - 5 PM
Service
St. John's Lutheran Church
850 Armstrong St
Portage, Wi 53901
Monday, July 9, 2012 11:00 AM
Interment
Oak Grove Cemetery
Portage, WI
Memorial Contributions St. John's Lutheran Church
