Merton Schwarz

Merton Schwarz

The Mankato Free Press has made an unfortunate mistake in their article regarding services for Merton Schwarz.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00am NEXT Saturday, October 19, 2019 at Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca.

MERTON VICTOR SCHWARZ, age 100 of Waseca died on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at Lake Shore Inn in Waseca.
Born on November 7, 1918 in Pleasant Mound Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, he was the son of Harold and Laura (Kurth) Schwarz.  He attended school in St. Clair and went on to work for creameries in Mapleton, St. James, Amboy and Owatonna.  In 1941, he enlisted in the US Army where he served in the Pacific Theater.  He was an Army Ranger in the 27th Division and participated in the invasions of Okinawa and Saipan.   Following his discharge from the Army, Mert married Elaine Peterson on November 24, 1945.  He farmed in Blue Earth and Waseca Counties for 10 years.  In 1957, the family moved into Waseca and he began his career in law enforcement.  He served with the Waseca Police Dept. for a short time before working for the Waseca County Sheriffs Office.  Mert became Waseca County Sheriff in 1976 following the death of Donald Eustice.  He retired in 1983.
Mert was a member of Grace Lutheran Church where he sang in the choir and helped with youth activities.  He loved horses and rode across Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico on the Continental Divide.  He and his horse, Bill, gave countless buggy rides to children and grown ups in Waseca County.  He was also a volunteer at FarmAmerica and at Hartley School.
He is survived by three children, John Schwarz of Aztec, NM, Katie (Lee) Ryan of Santa Clarita, CA and Ann Schwarz of Minneapolis.  He is also survived by six grandchildren, Ben (Adrian) Schwarz, Matthew (Ashley) Schwarz, James (Viv Carrillo) Coleman, Hannah (Mike) Fairman, Josiah (Angela Sheehan) Coleman, and Joseph Ryan; and four great grandchildren, Blake and Emerson Schwarz and Boden and Callan Fairman.  He is also survived by one brother, Alan Schwarz of New Ulm; and several nieces and nephews.   He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two brothers, Harold and Dean, and one sister, Louise Cords. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca.  Visitation will be held on Saturday, one hour before services at the church.   Burial will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.