Frances Lenora (Graff) SCHWICHTENBERG

SCHWICHTENBERG, GRAFF, TREHERN, DEANGELO, WATFORD, BURKE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/20/2013 at 12:17:17

November 25, 1924 --- November 13, 2013

CLEAR LAKE, IA - Frances Lenora (Graff) Schwichtenberg, 88, of Clear Lake, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Concord Care Center in Garner. Funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, at United Methodist Church, 109 N. Third St., Klemme, with the Rev. Michael Shaffer officiating. Burial will be in Ell Township Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Tenold-Andrews Funeral Home, 528 E. Main St., Klemme, from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, and one hour prior to services at the church.

Frances was born Nov. 25, 1924, in Moss Point, Miss., to Lawrence and Hattie Graff, and graduated from Moss Point High School. She met John Schwichtenberg at a USO dance in Biloxi, Miss., in October 1944, while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force. Their friendship grew to marriage in December 1947. Faith, music and dancing were cornerstones of their relationship.

Frances loved spending time with her family and caring for others. She was host mother to three foreign exchange students, as well as a foster mother. She loved gardening and sharing her beautiful flowers with others. She also enjoyed researching family genealogy.

She honored the Lord through her faith by being active and serving in a variety of capacities at Klemme United Methodist Church, including as a Sunday school teacher, youth director and Bible study leader. She was also involved in the Swaledale Garden Club, Thought and Thimble neighborhood club, a 4-H club leader, and many other organizations.

Frances is survived by husband, John Schwichtenberg, Clear Lake; three sisters, Hazel (Robert) Trehern, Mobile, Ala., Jaynice DeAngelo, Dothan, Ala., and Mona (Frank) Watford, Panama Beach, Fla.; four children John Jr., Thornton, Iowa, Raymond (Cathy) Schwichtenberg, Nevada, Iowa, Mike (Tamara) Schwichtenberg, Clear Lake, Iowa, and Janice (Jerry) Burke, Castle Rock, Colo.; grandchildren Angela, Abby, Kelli, Bethany, Joel, Erik, Alex, Casey, Daniel, Lauren; and many nieces, nephews and extended family. Frances was preceded in death by her parents and brother Lawrence (Buddy) Graff, Jr. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations given to the Klemme Methodist Church. Andrews Funeral Home, Klemme, Iowa.

November 16, 2013
Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa