A Celebration of Life Service for Gary M. Schwanz, 73, of St. James was 11 a.m. Friday, March 18, 2022 at Augustana Lutheran Church in St. James with Pastor Mandy France and Deacon Lyla Klee officiating. Burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery in St. James.

Gary was called to his eternal rest on Monday afternoon, March 14, 2022 at his home in St. James. Visitation was from 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 18, 2022 until 11 a.m at the Augustana Lutheran Church in St. James.

Messages of Sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.kramerfuneralhome.com Gary’s Funeral Service was livestreamed on AES Ministries Facebook page.

Gary Martin Schwanz was born on March 6, 1949 to Martin and Doris (Becker) Schwanz in St. James Hospital in St. James. He attended South Branch School until the 8th grade and then attended and later graduated from St. James High School with the class of 1967. He started playing softball in South Branch then played baseball and football in St. James High School. He grew up on a farm in South Branch township. Gary worked at Bloomquist Gas Station. After graduation from high school, he attended Jackson Vocational School. He then drove semi truck for 48 years for various trucking firms, the first was Nelson Ford hauling Keebler Cookie Trucks where he learned from Bill Finnestad. Gary then drove for Ag-Chem hauling large farm equipment then WFS drove grain and feed trucks, Laker Transfer hauled powdered milk, Runge’s Truck, Hunstad Trucking hauling cattle and hogs, grain, WFS (CFS) grain and feed. Gary drove for 48 years and figured about 4 million miles. He also drove school bus and motor coach off and on. On April 2, 1977 he was united in marriage to Karla Schaefer at the Covenant Church in Trimont. After their marriage they lived in St. James and raised their family. Gary was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church where he volunteered for certain church functions. He enjoyed bowling, playing slow pitch and fast pitch softball in St. James, Odin and Truman in his younger years and played in many tournaments. Gary also enjoyed taking family and friends on boat rides and liked to go fishing and golfing. He was an avid Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan. Helping farmers with their harvest in his retirement years meant a lot to him. Gary liked to meet his classmates uptown at the Eagle’s Club every third Tuesday and loved talking and visiting with family and friends. He enjoyed going to concerts and especially the music of Neil Diamond, Beach Boys, and the Four Seasons. Gary enjoyed going up to the Hometown and being with the breakfast club. He loved to visit and no one was a stranger. He is survived by his wife, Karla Schwanz of St.

He is survived by his wife, Karla Schwanz of St. James; two sons, Michael (Brooke) Schwanz of Bloomington and Daron Schwanz of Savage; two grandchildren, Oliver and Fiona; aunts, uncles, cousins; mother-in-law, Marlene A. Schaefer of Raeford, N.C.; step-mother-in-law, Ruth Schaefer of Winona; brothers-in-law, Steven Schaefer of Austin, Texas, Donald Schaefer of Edgemont, S.D., Carl Schaefer of Plymouth; sisters-in-law, Carol (Mark) Johnson of Raeford, N.C., Karen (Colin) Brown of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Jeanne Schwanz of Jamestown, N.D. and other relatives and friends. He also is survived by his uncle and godfather, George (Mary Jo) Schwanz of Blaine and aunt, Ruth (Herman) Wentzel of Ohio.

Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Doris Schwanz; brother, Gerald Schwanz; grandparents, Herman and Anna Schwanz and Oscar and Matilda Becker; father-in-law, David Schaefer; sisters-in-law, Ann Marie Schaefer, Carol Schaefer and other relatives.