Elaine (Weinke) Schwarz

     Elaine (Edna) Schwarz, 92, of Sparta, died Thursday, January 18, 2018 at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center, Sparta. She was born on July 10, 1925 in Portland, WI to Frank and Mina (Job) Weinke. She grew up on Fish Creek Ridge and graduated from Cashton High School. She then attended Vernon County Normal School for teaching.

     Elaine married Clare “Bud” Schwarz on March 4, 1946. She was an elementary school teacher at Goetz School on Summit Ridge. They owned and operated a grocery store on Summit Ridge for 3 years. She taught CCD for many years, was a 4-H leader for Monroe County, was a lifelong member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, and the Farmers Valley Homemakers Club. She was always willing to help her neighbors from cleaning a house to delivering food to any neighbor in need. She enjoyed quilling, sewing, crocheting, crafts, and painting, especially rosemaling and toll painting. She loved spending time with her family.

     Elaine is survived her children, Elaine (Jerry) Hoppe of Wausau, WI, Mary (Robert) Smothers of Sparta, Margaret (Malend) Raiten of Sparta, Jim (Mary) Schwarz of Sparta, Stephanie (Wayne) Tatzel of Sparta, Melchior (Deb) Schwarz of Sparta, Amy (Will) Schanhofer of Sparta, Douglas (Debra) Schwarz of Cashton, and Michelle (Jeff) Dzurik of Edmond, OK; 37 grandchildren; 79 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; a sister, Edith Webster of Sparta; a brother, Douglas (Joyce) Weinke of Rockland; a brother-in-laws, Myron (June) Schwarz of Sparta and Nyle Leis of Sparta.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clare “Bud” on May 23, 2015; a granddaughter, Gwen; a son-in-law, Keith Crocker; brother, Lawrence Weinke; sisters, Erma Leis and Sally Leis.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 22, 2018 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Summit Ridge, with Father Eric Berns and Father Keith Kitzhaber officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A luncheon will follow at Jake’s Northwoods in Sparta.

     Family and friends are invited to call from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday at Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, with a 6 p.m. rosary. Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. until time of services on Monday at the church. 

     The Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.  

 Service Information