1922
John
2012
John Henry Schwartau
December 21, 1922 — October 12, 2012
John Henry Schwartau, 89, of Red Wing, died Friday, Oct. 12, at the Mayo Clinic Health System-Red Wing. He was born on December 21, 1922 in Red Wing to John Carsten and Ida (Bleckman) Schwartau. He graduated in 1940 from Red Wing Central High School and then attended the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture.
On February 1, 1946 he married Bernice Gustafson at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Welch. They farmed 1946 to 1987 in Featherstone Township on their Century Farm until his retirement. Research on this farm contributed to GPS/GIS use for fertilization/yield mapping used in farming today. In 1997 they moved to Red Wing.
John devoted his life to family and the wider community giving leadership and service in areas of health care, political campaigns, agricultural and historical efforts. He was Chairman of the following organizations: Goodhue County Dairy Improvement Association, Featherstone Town Board, Goodhue County Township Officers Association, Goodhue County Farm Bureau and Minnesota Suffolk Sheep Association. He served as a 4-H Project leader for the Featherstone Boosters, and was active with St. John's Lutheran Church - Red Wing, South East Farm Management Association, U of M Parents Association, Kiwanis and Golden-K. He was named 1985 Goodhue County Citizen of the Year.
He was also active with the Goodhue County Historical Society, Goodhue Area Historical Society, Minnesota State Historical Society, Red Wing Collectors Society, Cannon Valley Collectors and Midwest Tool Collectors. He was a collector of vintage tools, pottery and memorabilia and enjoyed giving rope-making demonstrations. He photographed more than 300 historical barns of Goodhue County for its historical society. John and Bernice conducted research and fundraising to recognize the first area potter John Paul and the Claybank clay pits with a historical marker on Highway 58.
John chaired the St. John's Hospital Board of Trustees during 7 of his 20 years on the board, following in the footsteps of his uncle and his great-grandfather John Gerdau, who was one of the founders of the hospital. Because of his interest and leadership in health care service and agriculture, John was asked to serve on both the U of MN Institute of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics Citizen Advisory Council and the U of MN Health Science Advisory Council.
Survivors include his wife Bernice of 65 years; one daughter, Judy Schwartau of Minneapolis; one sister, Kathryn Matthees of Moorhead, Minn.; one brother-in-law, Don (Joyce) Gustafson of Red Wing; special cousin, Dorothy (Don) Anderson of Cannon Falls and many other cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Mary Egbert, Gertrude Helms and Ruth Cain.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct., 17 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Red Wing with Rev. Todd Engel officiating. Burial will be in the Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct., 16 at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and at the church for one hour prior to the service. Memorials are preferred toSt. John's Lutheran Church, 425 East Avenue, Red Wing MN 55066
Goodhue County Historical Society, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing MN 55066
Goodhue Area Historical Society, Box 141, Goodhue MN 55027
Minnesota Historical Society, 345 Kellogg Blvd W, St. Paul MN 55102
University of Minnesota Foundation Scholarship Fund, 200 Oak Street SE Suite 500, Minneapolis MN 55455
.
602 Plum Street P.O. Box 111
Red Wing, MN 55066
423 East Ave
Red Wing, MN
423 East Ave
Red Wing, MN
On February 1, 1946 he married Bernice Gustafson at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Welch. They farmed 1946 to 1987 in Featherstone Township on their Century Farm until his retirement. Research on this farm contributed to GPS/GIS use for fertilization/yield mapping used in farming today. In 1997 they moved to Red Wing.
John devoted his life to family and the wider community giving leadership and service in areas of health care, political campaigns, agricultural and historical efforts. He was Chairman of the following organizations: Goodhue County Dairy Improvement Association, Featherstone Town Board, Goodhue County Township Officers Association, Goodhue County Farm Bureau and Minnesota Suffolk Sheep Association. He served as a 4-H Project leader for the Featherstone Boosters, and was active with St. John's Lutheran Church - Red Wing, South East Farm Management Association, U of M Parents Association, Kiwanis and Golden-K. He was named 1985 Goodhue County Citizen of the Year.
He was also active with the Goodhue County Historical Society, Goodhue Area Historical Society, Minnesota State Historical Society, Red Wing Collectors Society, Cannon Valley Collectors and Midwest Tool Collectors. He was a collector of vintage tools, pottery and memorabilia and enjoyed giving rope-making demonstrations. He photographed more than 300 historical barns of Goodhue County for its historical society. John and Bernice conducted research and fundraising to recognize the first area potter John Paul and the Claybank clay pits with a historical marker on Highway 58.
John chaired the St. John's Hospital Board of Trustees during 7 of his 20 years on the board, following in the footsteps of his uncle and his great-grandfather John Gerdau, who was one of the founders of the hospital. Because of his interest and leadership in health care service and agriculture, John was asked to serve on both the U of MN Institute of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics Citizen Advisory Council and the U of MN Health Science Advisory Council.
Survivors include his wife Bernice of 65 years; one daughter, Judy Schwartau of Minneapolis; one sister, Kathryn Matthees of Moorhead, Minn.; one brother-in-law, Don (Joyce) Gustafson of Red Wing; special cousin, Dorothy (Don) Anderson of Cannon Falls and many other cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Mary Egbert, Gertrude Helms and Ruth Cain.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct., 17 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Red Wing with Rev. Todd Engel officiating. Burial will be in the Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct., 16 at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and at the church for one hour prior to the service. Memorials are preferred toSt. John's Lutheran Church, 425 East Avenue, Red Wing MN 55066
Goodhue County Historical Society, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing MN 55066
Goodhue Area Historical Society, Box 141, Goodhue MN 55027
Minnesota Historical Society, 345 Kellogg Blvd W, St. Paul MN 55102
University of Minnesota Foundation Scholarship Fund, 200 Oak Street SE Suite 500, Minneapolis MN 55455
.
Visitation
OCT 16. 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM (CDT)
Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel602 Plum Street P.O. Box 111
Red Wing, MN 55066
Visitation
OCT 17. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (CDT)
St. John's Lutheran Church - Red Wing423 East Ave
Red Wing, MN
Service
OCT 17. 11:00 AM (CDT)
St. John's Lutheran Church - Red Wing423 East Ave
Red Wing, MN
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