Ray Schwitzer (1917-1998)

SCHWITZER, ANDERSON, NEBERGALL, SISSEL, BECKER, ERIKSEN, MEIXNER, TOWNSEND, WITMER, BRENNAN, NELSON, EILERS, ALBERHASKY, MOORE, NORTON, BOETTCHER, DRAGER, BOND

Posted By: Beverly Witmer (email)
Date: 2/12/2013 at 18:23:38

Tipton Conservative, Tipton, Iowa – May, 1998.

Ray Schwitzer

Funeral services for Ray H. Schwitzer, 81, Tipton, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today, Wednesday, May 6, 1998 at Fry Funeral Home in Tipton, with the Rev. Norman Anderson officiating. Evelyn Nebergall is the organist and pallbearers are Gene Sissel, Alvin Becker, Pete Eriksen, Mike Meixner, Herb Townsend and Larry Witmer. Honorary pallbearers are Jim Brennan, Jerald Nebergall, Frank Nelson, Claire Nebergall, Dean Eilers, Don Alberhasky, Mike Moore and Willie Norton. Burial will be in the Tipton Masonic cemetery.

Mr. Schwitzer died May 2 at Mercy hospital in Iowa City, from complications of cancer.

The son of Otto and Ella Boettcher Schwitzer, he was born Feb. 17, 1917 in Cedar county. He attended Cedar county schools and attended engineering school in Chicago, Ill. He married Duetta Delora Drager on Nov. 1, 1942 at the South Bethel church in Tipton.

Mr. Schwitzer was an active farmer and a mechanic all of his life.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served before World War II. At the outbreak of World War II he enlisted and served with an anti-aircraft battalion in the United States Army from 1942 until his discharge in 1946. He served in the Pacific Theater and attained the rank of staff sergeant.

When he returned home he was employed as a mechanic for Gaul Motors in Tipton for 17 years. He had also farmed south of Tipton since 1946 and was self-employed as a mechanic beginning in the early 1960’s.

Mr. Schwitzer was a member of the South Bethel United Methodist church, the American Legion and the Marine Corps League.

He is survived by his wife; a son and daughter-in-law, Rodney and Barbara Schwitzer, Tipton; 4 grandsons, Matthew (Jennifer), Tulsa, Okla.; and Aaron D., Kevan J. and John R., all of Tipton; a sister, Alice Bond, East Moline, Ill.; and 2 brothers, Leonard, Tipton; and Allen, Maquoketa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and infant sister, Helen; and a brother, Herbert.

Memorials may be made to the Ray Schwitzer Mechanics Scholarship.