Anna Schwieters

Anna Marie Schwieters, age 85 of Greenwald, died peacefully surrounded by her husband and family on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 13 at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Greenwald with Rev. Dick McGuire officiating and Rev. Omar Guanchez and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the Christian Women, Daughters of Isabella, and Lake Henry American Legion Auxiliary at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Anna Marie was born in Elrosa, Minnesota to Frank and Nellie Breitbach on February 25, 1928. She was raised in Elrosa and then went on to work at the phone company in Greenwald. She met Anthony and married the love of her life on September 6, 1949 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa. They lived on the family farm and raised 11 children.

Anna Marie worked very hard and raised her children with the greatest work ethic ever, she loved to cook, sew, embroider, crotchet and loved to braid her girls' hair giving them a smile from one cheek to the other. She was a supportive wife and loving mother to all.

She was a member of St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Greenwald, Christian Women, Daughters of Isabella Joan of Arc Circle, and the Lake Henry American Legion Auxiliary Post 612.

Anna Marie is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Tony Schwieters; children, Judy Schwieters of Olympia, Washington, Mary Kay Duffney of Minneapolis, Steven (Jan) Schwieters of Eden Prairie, Don Schwieters of Austin, Texas, Diane Schwieters of Delano, Jean (Mark) Hellevik of Minneapolis, Bonnie (Dan) Lewis of Ham Lake, Tony (Kim) Schwieters of Grant, and Jennifer (Keith) Eibensteiner of North Oaks; 24 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy (Howard) Carstens of Melrose; and brother, Edward (Carolyn) Breitbach of Mounds View.

Anna Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Nellie Breitbach; daughter, Mary Theresa; son, James Schwieters; and brothers, Donald and Harold Breitbach.

Anna Marie and Tony shared a special birthday of Feb 25 1928 --they just celebrated 85 years of life and we will continue to celebrate her life.

Serving as casket bearers will be Craig Duffney, Padraic Connolly, Nicholas Connolly, Aaron Schwieters, Tony Lewis, and Sam Schwieters. Cross bearer will be Tricia Duffney and scripture bearers will be Jaime Harris and Nikki Jahnke. Honorary bearers will be the Christian Women, Daughters of Isabella, and Lake Henry American Legion Auxiliary.