Victor Schwinghamer

Victor A. Schwinghamer, Sr., age 97 of Sauk Centre, died Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the CentraCare Health Hospital in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 25 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Tim Wenzel officiating and Rev. Greg Paffel concelebrating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the Knights of Columbus and St. Paul's Catholic United prayer service at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Victor Adam Schwinghamer was born October 14, 1917 in Albany, Minnesota to Isadore and Elizabeth (Funk) Schwinghamer. Victor graduated from Albany High School in 1937. On August 21, 1940 he married Anna Pratschner at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany. Victor and Anna resided in Padua where they farmed until 1966 when they moved to Sauk Centre, where Victor did carpenter work with his son Roger. He worked as janitor for St. Anthony Catholic Church of Padua for 25 years, as well as St. Paul's Catholic Church for 25 years. He also served with the Senior Citizens which included delivering meals on wheels, of which he thoroughly enjoyed. Victor served on many other various boards as well, too numerous to mention. In his leisure he enjoyed traveling and writing poems.

Victor was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, St. Paul's Catholic United, Bishop Busch Council #4863 Knights of Columbus (50 plus years and Grand Knight status), and Sauk Centre Historical Society (founding member). Vic was also involved with the Stearns County Fair Board where he served for 25 years as secretary, the Senior Board as a chairman, Central Minnesota Council on Aging, was a volunteer driver for Senior Dining for 14 years, served as Raymond Township Clerk, and was a founding member and first president of the Stearns County Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA).

Survivors include his children, Ruth Ann (John) Sadlowsky of Kauai, HI, Betty (Steve) Saunders of St. Paul, Roger Schwinghamer of Sauk Centre, Victor Jr. (Sue) Schwinghamer of Blair, NE, Eileen (Tim) Mihalko of Rhinelander, WI, Joan (Jay) Luttio of Plymouth, and Roseann (Mike) Christensen of Alexandria ; brother and sister, Erwin (Joyce) Schwinghamer of Canberra, Australia, and Mary Schwinghamer of Albany; 22 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren with one on the way; and one great-great-granddaughter and another great-great-grandchild on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Anna (Pratschner) Schwinghamer on January, 21, 1987; infant son, John; daughter-in-law, Marge Schwinghamer; brother, Berthold Schwinghamer; sisters, Irene Conrad, Lidwina Schwinghamer, and Olivia Christen.

Serving as casket bearers will be Craig Schwinghamer, Chris Schwinghamer, Chad Schwinghamer, Scott Schwinghamer, Steve Doke, Jacob Christensen, and Shaun Lindsoe. Cross bearer will be Colby Schwinghamer and scripture bearer will be Louise Sobtzak.