Victor Schwenn

Victor Charles Schwenn, age 89, died of a stroke on Friday, September 30, 2011 at Oakwood University Woods.
He was born on January 5, 1922 in Middleton, WI to Victor J and Edna (Lubcke) Schwenn. He was a 1939 graduate of Middleton High School. Victor was united in marriage with Dolores Lesko in St Rita's Catholic Church, Chicago on October 21, 1950. He is also survived by their daughter, Barbara (Michael) Carpenter, grandson Glenn Robert, granddaughter Molly Jane, sister Edith Fisher of Lincoln, Nebraska, as well as numerous cherished nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marjorie Thielke of Madison, WI.

"If I had to live my life over, I would be happy to marry the same wife and to take the same jobs.

Looking back, I feel that I was very fortunate to live a full life in the best of times. It was a good experience to grow up in depression days--it made you appreciate the better days that came thereafter. I grew up in a small town, Middleton, WI which made a very active, busy lifestyle possible. This included participating in high school sports, peddling a daily Madison newspaper and playing saxophone in the town band and in a small dance band.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a major in accounting in 1943, I joined the Navy--received a commission from Northwestern Midshipmen School, and served as a deck officer aboard the LST 290 which included participating in D-Day in the battle of Normandy.

After the war I joined Kroger Food Stores as an accounting supervisor. They transferred me to Chicago, where I met the young lady I was looking for and married. My next job change came in 1965 when I had the opportunity to move back to my home state as Controller of American Breeders Service, a Division of W.R. Grace & Co in DeForest, WI. After 22 years I retired in 1987.

I have been very active in volunteer work since retiring. I have served on the Midvale Community Lutheran Church council and several church committees, served on the board of directors and several committees of the Oakwood Retirement Center and Nursing Home, and as treasurer of the First Lutheran Church Historical Site (a well preserved country church founded in 1852 with my great grandfather as the first pastor). I have also been active in organizations doing income tax work for the elderly and medical insurance counseling.

I have enjoyed golfing, bridge and gardening in my retirement years. Dolores and I have also been doing a lot of traveling, trying to make up for the years when I was working and couldn't find the time.

I have been encouraged to think back over my life and realize what a good, happy life I have had."

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at MIDVALE COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 4329 Today Blvd., Madison, WI, with visitation from 10:00 am until the time of service at church.

The family would like to thank the staff of Covenant Oaks for the care and support of Victor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Oakwood Foundation, Midvale Community Lutheran Church, or HospiceCare Inc.