Mildred Schwabbauer

SCHWABBAUER, CROSBY, HANSON

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 5/20/2009 at 13:12:27

Mildred Schwabbauer, 96, died peacefully of natural causes on Friday, January 23, 2009, at Windmill Manor in Coralville, Iowa. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 28, at 4 p.m. at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City, with visitation prior to the service from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a visitation in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Thursday, January 29, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Bruce-Graham Funeral Home prior to burial in North Lawn Cemetery in Fort Dodge. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or Fort Dodge YWCA. Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City, is handling the arrangements.

Mildred was born on June 16, 1912 in Webster County, Iowa, the daughter of John and Mary Crosby. She graduated from Fort Dodge High School in 1930 and attended Fort Dodge Tobin Business College. Mildred married Arthur Schwabbauer in 1935. They resided in Fort Dodge for their 48 years of marriage (Art died in 1983). Mildred and Art had two children, Ivan and Geraldine (Geri).
Mildred worked as a secretary at Stromberg Hatchery and Iowa Children’s and Family Services in Fort Dodge. She was a charter member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fort Dodge where she served as a trustee and elder.
Mildred and Art had many opportunities to travel during their marriage. Together, they visited 49 states, Canada and Mexico. After Art’s death, she continued to travel on her own, even venturing to Alaska where she took a helicopter ride to the Arctic Circle. Mildred was a very self-reliant person. She lived in her own home, drove a car and mowed her yard until she was 92 years old! Mildred moved to Coralville, Iowa in 2005 to be close to her children.

After her retirement in 1974, Mildred was a dedicated volunteer. Giving back to others was very important to her. She assisted with Camp Fire Girls and volunteered with students at Duncombe Elementary School in Fort Dodge. She also volunteered 3,741 hours for Trinity Regional Medical Center’s Telecare service where she called the homes of 50 senior residents in the morning.

Mildred was an avid flower gardener and was well known for her green thumb. Each year Fort Dodge residents were treated to a display of hundreds of tulips that bloomed in her front yard. She often won awards for her flowers at local shows. Mildred loved all kinds of crafts, particularly china painting. She belonged to YWCA, Fort Dodge Garden Club, Questers Antiques and many card groups. One group of her friends met regularly to play cards over a 70 year period since 1928.

Mildred was a loving and generous grandmother. She delighted in making a colorful afghan for each grandchild. She loved to hear about their activities and to receive cards and letters from them. Mildred probably saved every greeting card she ever received from her family and many friends! The entire family always looked forward to receiving their Christmas stockings which would be filled with many unique items that Mildred had gotten throughout the year.

Mildred is survived by her son Ivan (Marian) Schwabbauer of Coralville and her daughter Geri (Don) Hanson of Coralville. She also is survived by six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and brothers Neil Crosby, Harry Crosby and James Crosby.

Online condolences may be left at www.lensingfuneral.com under obituaries.