Cletus Schwartze (Veteran)

Cletus John Schwartze, age 92, of Argyle, passed away Wednesday, March 21, 2012, in the Maries Manor Care Center, Vienna. Cletus had been in failing health for some time. He was born on December 4, 1919, at Argyle, a son of Herman Frank and Catherine Hildagard Schwartze. On November 22, 1947, Cletus was united in marriage to Florentine Mary Steinman in the St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Argyle. He was a veteran of the United States Army and had served in the South Pacific during World War II. Cletus was a diary farmer in Maries County, had worked at Quaker Window Products Company in Freeburg, and then at Westinghouse in Jefferson City as an electrician retiring on May 1, 1985. He was a member of the St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Argyle; the Argyle Knights of Columbus Council No. 2047; and the Argyle Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8045. Cletus enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, any type of wood working, and spending time with his family. Cletus is survived by his wife, Florentine Schwartze; nine children, Dan (Judy) Schwartze, Kansas City, John (Carol) Schwartze, Holts Summit, Peggy (Rick) Sennott, Freeburg, Dorothy Claxton, St. Charles, Tom (Amy) Schwartze, Russellville, Mary (Rick) Elliott, Tipton, Sam (Kerry) Schwartze, Flat Rock, Indiana, Ginger (Mike) Kloeppel, Westphalia, and Steve (Kathleen) Schwartze, St. Elizabeth; 29 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Pauline Lock, Rosaline Wulff, and Helen Reinsch, and many other relatives and friends. Cletus was preceded in death by his parents - his father, Herman, on April 23, 1968, his mother, Catherine, on May 30, 1927; and three brothers, Herbert Schwartze on April 21, 1960; Victor Schwartze on February 16, 2002; and Theodore Schwartze on February 8, 2010. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 23, 2012, and from 12 noon to 1 p.m., Saturday, March 24, 2012, in the St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Argyle. A Veterans of Foreign Wars Service will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, March 23, 2012, followed by a Knights of Columbus Rosary Service and a Vigil Service lead by his son, the Rev. Mr. Steve Schwartze, with all being held in the St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Argyle. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Cletus at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 24, 2012, in the St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Argyle, with the Rev. Msgr. Marion J. Makarewicz celebrating. Interment with full military honors will be in the St. Aloysius Cemetery, Argyle. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the St. Aloysius Catholic Church, the Alzheimer's Association, or Masses. All arrangements are under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be left at birminghammar-tinfuneralhomes.com