My sympathies to family and fr iends
Bernice B. Schwegel
August 25, 1927 – June 27, 2022
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday July 25, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at St Michael’s Catholic church in St. Cloud for Bernice B Schwegel, age 94 of St. Cloud who passed away on Monday June 27, 2022 at Woodcrest of Country Manor in St. Joseph. Reverend Timothy Gapinski will officiate. Interment will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church.
Bernice was born August 25, 1927 in St. Cloud to Mathew and Verena (Lahr) Lauerman. She graduated from Cathedral High School in 1945 near the top of her class. She went on to earn her Teaching Degree from St Cloud State Teachers College. She taught at several “Country Schools” in the area. Bernice married William Schwegel on August 11, 1949 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud. She then made sure her large family was fed, clothed and active. She was always cooking, baking, canning and freezing. She enjoyed bowling, softball league and helping with maple syruping. She hardly ever missed any of her children’s or grandchildren’s activities. After raising her children, Bernice was a teacher’s aide at McKinley and Westwood schools. Bernice was a founding member of St Peter’s Parish and St. Michael’s Parish.
Survivors include her children, Richard Schwegel (Darla) of St. Joseph, Barb Lahr (Ron) of Avon, Roger Schwegel of Piney, Manitoba, Canada, Roy Schwegel (Sharon) of Hackensack, Randy Schwegel (Sue) of Backes, Rob Schwegel (Colleen) of St. Joseph, Bonnie Yozamp (Jeff) of Sun Prairie, Wisc., and Rodney Schwegel (Christi) of Sauk City, Wisc.; 19 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; and sister, Luverne Rassier.
The family would like to thank the staff of the memory unit at Woodcrest, St. Croix Hospice and two special friends Patty Klaphake and Wendell Watts.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.
Guestbook
I deeply regret the passing of Mrs. Schwegel. These comments come from an old man’s vantage point and my perception of her legacy. I met the Schwegel family during my formative years while attending St. Peter’s grade school. The family was raised in a simple home on the Sauk River while I was raised up the road in Sunset Park. In that home there was love, respect, dignity, and discipline. The environment resembled that of how my sisters and I were raised so it was easy for me to fit in. Mrs. Schwegel was the matriarch of the family and cooked, cleaned, was loyal, and darn sure took care of her family. Mr. Schwegel was a competitive and demanding man. That being said, I observed several occasions where Mrs. Schwegel would level that steely glare in his direction and he would quickly submit. There was no doubt Mrs. Schwegel was his equal. I grew up loving to hunt, fish, and play baseball. The Schwegel boys and I shared the same passions and we became fast friends. They say life is about making memories. Well the Schwegel’s provided me with an abundance of them. Whether we were training young Chesapeakes to retrieve, playing ball at the Schwegel field of dreams, enjoying their cabin on Big Fish lake, or catching Carp on the Sauk River, we always enjoyed those activities together. Mrs. Schwegel along with Mr. Schwegel, led by example. They were good and decent people who raised a good and decent family. And whether they were aware of it or not there was a young boy hanging out there taking note. So I bode Mrs Schwegel farewell. May she rest in peace and realize eternal happiness.
Services
Visitation
St. Michael’s Catholic ChurchServices
St. Michael’s Catholic ChurchSchedule Details
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday July 25, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at St Michael’s Catholic church in St. Cloud for Bernice B Schwegel, age 94 of St. Cloud who passed away on Monday June 27, 2022 at Woodcrest of Country Manor in St. Joseph. Reverend Timothy Gapinski will officiate. Interment will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church.