William Schwanke

William G. "Bill" Schwanke, age 62 of Grey Eagle, died suddenly on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at his home in Grey Eagle, Minnesota.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 13 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grey Eagle with Rev. Ron Tibbetts officiating. Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Grey Eagle.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church in Grey Eagle.

William Gerald Schwanke was born September 6, 1952 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Gerald and Janet (Zellmann) Schwanke. He graduated in 1970 from the Grey High School. He attended college at Moorhead State University for two years before returning home to help on the family farm. He was employed at Dairy Ridge in Long Prairie for 11 years.

William was an active member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grey Eagle where he sang on the church choir. He also sang in the Grey Eagle Community Choir. He enjoyed gardening, his cats, taking walks in the woods along his property, and most of all, spending time with his family and friends.

Survivors include his mother, Janet Sufka of Grey Eagle; sisters, Linda (Paul) Larsen of St. Francis, Nancy (Kevin) Bitz of Grey Eagle, and Janice (Gary) Glockzin Sr. of San Diego, CA; five nephews and three nieces; aunts, Carolyn Ilgen of Grey Eagle and Marlene (Leonard) Brikholz of Blaine; and many cousins and friends.

William was preceded in death by his father, Gerald Schwanke; and brother, Dan Schwanke.

Serving as casket bearers will be Darrell Bitz, Micheal Bitz, Joshua Bitz, Bradley Miley, Gary Glockzin Jr., and Scott Larsen.