A graduate of Cathedral Grade School and Cathedral High School, he continued his education at Belleville Area College. He worked a successful career in the packaging industry in design and sales which spanned almost six decades, eventually retiring from Boxes, Inc. in St. Louis, MO. He was affectionately known by his friends and customers as the “Box Guy”. His retirement years were enriched putting all his skills to use as he joyfully worked alongside his sons developing Schwartz Brothers Printing. He considered himself incredibly lucky to have lived such a blessed life surrounded by his wife, children, and their families, yet those who knew him were truly the blessed ones to enjoy his quick wit and lively personality. He was passionate about bicycling, often riding several days a week. He and Carol also loved travelling around the world and experiencing everything from European river cruises to Disney World.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Othmar and Ann, nee Krupp, Schwartz; and two sisters Kathleen Whiteley and Janet Docter.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Carol C. Schwartz, nee Cocheba, whom he married on December 26, 1960;
two daughters, Lisa (Glenn) Logan, and Angela (Mark) Renner of Belleville;
two sons, John Schwartz and James (Chris) Schwartz of St. Louis, MO;
nine grandchildren, Alex (Mary) Araiza and Amanda (Leo) Araiza, Nate (Rachel) Renner, Isabella and Enzo Schwartz, Henry and Oscar Schwartz, Kate and Kevin Logan;
one great grandson, Louis Araiza;
a sister, Linda (Terry) Noblitt of Belleville, IL;
a twin brother, Donald (Betty Jo) Schwartz of Boerne, TX;
a brother-in-law, Dr. Don (Sharon) Cocheba of Ellensburg, WA;
a sister-in-law, Kaye (Joe) Reuter of Evansville, IN;
his mother-in-law, Celeste Cocheba of Belleville;
and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or to St. Jude’s Hospital. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: A recitation of the rosary will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by a visitation from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, November 11, 2022, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, November 12, 2022, at St. Henry Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 12, 2022, at St. Henry Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Rev. Kenneth York officiating.
Burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.