Anthony Schwieters

Anthony A. "Tony" Schwieters, age 85 of Greenwald, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 22 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. Sunday and 8 to 10 a.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by St. Andrew's Catholic United Financial and the Knights of Columbus at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Anthony Alois Schwieters was born in Greenwald, Minnesota to Leo and Caroline (Nathe) Schwieters on February 25, 1928. He was raised in Greenwald and then went on to the Agricultural College at the University of Minnesota. He met Anna Marie and married the love of his life on September 6, 1949 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa. They lived on the family farm and raised 11 children.

He was a member of St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Greenwald, Greenwald Lions Club, St. Andrew's Catholic United Financial, and the Knights of Columbus, Council #1633. Farming was Tony's passion. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, and drinking coffee with the boys.

Tony is survived by his 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; and sisters, Sally Uphoff of Dassel, Jeanette (Alvin) Barten of Marshalltown, Iowa, Charlene (Jack) Ohmann of Greenwald, and Joan (Jerry) Ehresmann of St. Cloud.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Marie Schwieters on March 7, 2013; parents, Leo and Caroline Schwieters; daughter, Mary Theresa; son, James Schwieters; sisters and brother, Loretta Meyer, Delores Wehlage, and Herb Schwieters.

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.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.