Alois Schwabe

Alois J. (Al), son of Bernard and Anna (Macke) Schwabe, was born November 21, 1911, at Mt. Carmel, Iowa. He was educated at Mt. Carmel and Maple River, and then worked on the family farm. He lived on this farm east of Maple River for 90 years. Al served in the 9th Armored Infantry Division of the United States Army in the European theater during WWII. He fought at the Battle of the Bulge and Remagen bridge, and the squad he led captured 1,500 German soldiers. By all accounts Al was a courageous and selfless leader, earning two Bronze Stars and many other medals during his service. Following his discharge from the Army in December of 1945, Al worked at Heider Manufacturing in Carroll until his retirement in 1970. He then resumed farming with his brothers and sister. Al enjoyed working on the lawn mower and tractor engines, as well as gardening at the farm. Al was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. He was a member of the St. Francis Catholic Church in Maple River and then Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. Al moved to the St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll in the fall of 2008. He died there on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at the age of 100 years, 5 months and 29 days. Al is preceded in death by his parents; five brothers: Ben, Henry, Joe, John and Herman Schwabe; and three sisters: Catherine Schwabe, Margaret Kokenge and Ann Beckman. He is survived by many nieces and nephews. Celebrant Reverend Timothy Johnson Lector Julie Clancy Eucharistic Minister Al Nepple Gift Bearers Karen Nepple Donna Irlbeck Music Holy Spirit Choir Barb McDermott, Organist Casket Bearers Alan Kokenge Louis Starman Leonard Tunning Jim Schwabe Roger Schwabe Stan Kerkhoff