Obituary of Merlin Richard Schwers

LUXEMBURG, IOWA

Merlin R. “Merle” Schwers, 79, of Luxemburg passed away Friday, March 29, 2019, at MercyOne Medical Center in Dubuque after a brief illness.

Visitation will be held after 2 pm Thursday, April 4, 2019, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12^th Ave SW in Dyersville where the New Vienna/Luxemburg Fire Department will gather at 6:30 pm and an American Legion service will be held at 7 pm.  Visitation will continue Friday from 9 – 10:30 am at Kramer Funeral Home prior to funeral services.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am Friday, April 5, 2019, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Luxemburg with burial in the church cemetery.  Military honors will be accorded by American Legion Post 137.  Rev. Noah Diehm will officiate.

Merle was born Feb. 1, 1940, in New Vienna, Iowa the son of Herman and Marie (Foxen) Schwers.  He enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in 1959 and served 6 years until 1965.  He married Marie Klein on June 3, 1967, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Balltown.  Together they began farming in the New Vienna area and eventually bought their own farm near Luxemburg.  Merle semi-retired from farming in 2002.  He and Marie have spent the last 14 winters in Florida and Merle has spent the summers helping on the farm.

Merle was active in the Luxemburg community, serving as a member of the NV/LUX Fire Board, Holy Trinity Parish Council and School Board, was a member of the Holy Trinity Choir and American Legion Post 137.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Marie, children: Steve (Donna) and Marty (Jan), both of Luxemburg, Michelle (Chad) Koopmann of Epworth and Kevin (Amelia) of Ankeny; grandchildren: Libby, Spencer and Mitchell Schwers, Haiden, Owen and Levi Koopmann, and Kelen, and Araya Schwers; siblings: Germaine Theisen of Dyersville, Lillian Greiner of Independence, Eileen (Ambrose) Hellmann of Ryan, Caroline Nachtman of Manchester, Betty (Hal) Schultz of Cedar Rapids, Lawrence Schwers of Anamosa, Elmer Schwers of Dubuque, Charles (Donna) Schwers of Colorado Springs, CO and Jim Schwers of Tulsa, OK,

in-laws: Arlene (Jack) Bahl of Balltown, Nancy (Joe) Banwarth, Sandy (Dave) Kauffmann, Madonna (Harold) Nauman, Lonnie (Dianne) Klein, Marleen Klein and Sandy Pierce, all of Sherrill, Loras (Marlene) Klein of Rickardsville, and Lenny (Judy) Klein of Belmont, WI, and Leon Klein of Balltown.

He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws: Elmer Greiner, Merlin Theisen, Colleen Schwers, John Nachtman, Lyle Klein, Lester Klein, nephews, Mark Greiner and Randy Bahl, and a niece, Jennifer Schwers.