George A. Schwarz

George A. Schwarz, age 95, a resident of Sterling Heights since 2006, passed away April 19, 2017 at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy. He was born July 3, 1921 in Detroit to the late Emil and Alice Schwarz. George lived in Berkley from 1948 to 2006 and was a member of Our Lady of La Salette church. He entered the Army in December of 1942 and served honorably in the Pacific through the end of WW II having being shot once and on another occasion being wounded by mortar fire. After returning home to Detroit and his job at J. L. Hudson Co. he met his pen pal Mary Ragona and they were married in 1946. He continued with J. L. Hudson Co. until 1954 when he decided to become a self-employed milkman with the Ira Wilson Dairy. He retired in 1984 but missed meeting and conversing with people of all walks of life so he found a job with Frentz Hardware in Royal Oak. Finally, at the age of 84 they moved to their condo in Sterling Heights and he retired for good. He was extremely active with the Troy Clawson Elks becoming its Exalted Ruler. He also had a love for veterans. He founded the Adopt a Vet program with the Troy Clawson Elks and expanded it into a national program that is now a part of Elks Clubs throughout the country. He also loved northern Michigan, especially his home at Cathead Bay near Northport. Whether for a long weekend or upon retirement spending months at a time, he couldn't wait to sit on the porch and take in the views of the passing freighters on Lake Michigan. And, of course, he needed to see, meet, and converse, so in addition to being one of the boys at Barb's Bakery he ended up with a summer job at the local golf course as a starter ranger. He made many friends throughout his life but his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchild were most important to him. Beloved husband of the late Mary; loving father of Keith (Lois) Schwarz, Joyce (Leonard) Palmeri, Kathy (Paul) Dougherty and the late Cherry Ann Schwarz; proud grandfather of Maria Wilson, Christina Palmeri and Caitlin Dougherty; great grandfather of Ethan Wilson; and dear brother of the late Louis and Catherine Schwarz. Visitation Monday 2-8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. scripture service at the Wm. Sullivan and Son Funeral Home, 705 W 11 Mile Road (4 blocks E of Woodward), Royal Oak. In state Tuesday 10:30 a.m. until the time of Mass 11 a.m. at Our Lady of LaSalette Catholic Church, Berkley. Burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield. Memorials to the American Heart Association or Neurofibromatosis Foundation are appreciated. Share your memories at www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com.

George A. Schwarz

July 3, 1921 - April 19, 2017