Eileen Schwarz

Eileen Schwarz of Appleton passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo, at the age of 87.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Appleton, with Pastor John Ramsbacher officiating. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will follow at Appleton City Cemetery.

A time of food and fellowship will be held at the Appleton VFW following the service.

Eileen Helen (Gustafson) Schwarz was born on April 3, 1938, to Herbert and Marion (Anderson) Gustafson at Montevideo Hospital. She was baptized and confirmed at Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church, Hanley Falls. In her youth, Eileen was active in her church and school communities. She began piano lessons at the age of eight and was playing piano and organ for church services by the time she was 15. Over the course of 60 plus years, she served as a dedicated church organist, playing for countless weddings and funerals.

Eileen graduated as valedictorian from Hanley Falls High School in June 1956. She went on to attend Augsburg College and later worked at Minneapolis Honeywell as secretary to the security division.

On December 6, 1958, Eileen was united in marriage to Waldemar (Wally) Schwarz at Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church, Hanley Falls. They were blessed with two children: Cheryl and Paul.

Eileen cherished her role as a wife and mother, always supporting her children and grandchildren in their activities and sports. A devoted Minnesota sports fan, she especially loved cheering on the Timberwolves, Twins, and Vikings. She found joy in cooking, baking, and playing cards—where she enjoyed playing in a card club with the same group of friends for over 60 years. She was an active member of Trinity Guild, LWML, Homemakers, and Regional Concert Series Chairperson. She enjoyed trips to Branson, Norway and Germany. She enjoyed winters in Arizona with her family and visits with friends and singing in the community choir, Village Voices.

Eileen enjoyed her time as a farm wife and was always willing to drive tractors and trucks in the field for her husband, Wally. After his passing when she was just 51, she remained on the farm and continued to live with strength and grace. Despite living with fibromyalgia for many years and undergoing cancer treatment in 2018 that led to the loss of a kidney, Eileen’s resilience—combined with the exceptional care she received at Mayo Clinic—enabled her to witness and celebrate the weddings of all three of her grandchildren. In July 2022, after a medical event, she had to move off the farm and moved to Brookside Senior living in Montevideo to be near her son. She enjoyed many activities there, including bible study and playing keyboard for the many Pastors from the community that came to do services at Brookside. After a hospitalization in September, she transferred to Luther Haven nursing home and entered hospice care for a short time before she passed from congestive heart failure and kidney disease.

Above all, Eileen will be remembered for her love for her family and friends, and sharing her musical talent of playing organ, and baking for any occasion.

Eileen is survived by her children, Cheryl (Wayne) Fuoss of Rochester and Paul Schwarz of Montevideo; grandchildren, Stephanie (Logan) George of Saint Michael, Katie (Jerad) Borgschatz of Brooklyn Park, and Jordan (Bri) Schwarz of Victoria; great-granddaughter, Greer Eileen Schwarz of Victoria; brother, Arlan Gustafson of Hanley Falls; sisters, Joyce (Earl Hauge) of Glenwood and Diane (Al) Rasmussen of Gold Canyon, AZ; nephews, John (Beth) Gustafson & family, Michael (Guisela) Gustafson & family, and Chris Rasmussen, and niece, Mary Gustafson. Sister in law, Stanley & Darlene (Schwarz) Rohloff and family.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Waldemar; her parents; nephew, Dan Rasmussen; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Gustafson.