LEONARD P. SCHWAB

Leonard P. Schwab, 88, of Devils Lake formerly of Crary, ND, passed away on Tuesday morning, April 19, 2016, at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks. Leonard Peter, was born on June 12, 1927, on the family farm near Esmond, ND, the oldest of eleven children born to Peter and Frances (Schmidt) Schwab. He attended the Esmond Public School and helped his parents on the farm. On April 12, 1946, at Fort Snelling, MN, Leonard joined the United States Army Air Corp, and served his country at Lowry Field in Colorado as a Radio Mechanic for flight control. He was honorably discharged on October 10, 1947, with the rank of PFC. Leonard was united in marriage to Rosemary Jean Tobin on June 3, 1952, at St. Joseph Church. They lived in Crary, ND, for many years and later moved to a nearby farm. After Leonard’s military discharge, he began employment with the Great Northern Railroad. His training began at the Penn Station and over his 38 years with the railroad he worked as an agent and telegrapher at many stations in the Lake Region. As a telegrapher, Leonard mastered the Morse Code for communication, which advanced to telephone and at retirement he was using a computer. Leonard was still able to communicate in Morse Code well into his eighties. The railroad was Leonard’s career, but farming was his passion. The family shared farm life together, raising most every kind of farm animal at one time or another and caring for the land they were blessed to farm. Leonard was a member of Sacred Heart Church at Crary until it closed and then joined St. Joseph Church. He was a member of the Railroad Brotherhood and also enjoyed membership in the Devils Lake Elks Lodge. Leonard was a hunter, fisherman, musician and dancer. Although he didn’t read music, he taught himself to play the accordion by ear and was at his happiest on the dance floor. Even Rosemary had to claim a place in line to waltz with Leonard. He loved to load the grandkids in the pickup and drive around listening to Lawrence Welk CDs. He was quick to laugh, armed with a story, a joke or a well-planned prank. He was an avid Crary Cardinals fan and an undefeated champion arm wrestler. Above all else, Leonard treasured his family. He was very close with his siblings, attending or hosting annual reunions for many years. Our memories are many and our hearts overflow with love for our beloved husband, dad, grandpa and brother. Leonard is survived by his wife Rosemary of 63 years; children Richard (Susan) Schwab, Devils Lake, Susan Schwab-Kjelland also Devils Lake and Tim (Lynette) Schwab, Fort Myers, FL; grandchildren Cole Schwab, Devils Lake and Alex Schwab, Powers Lake, ND, Leonard Kjelland, Oakes, ND, Benjamin Kjelland, Valley City, ND, Katelyn Kjelland, Dover, DE, Ryan Schwab and Trevor Schwab both Fort Myers; brothers Claude Schwab, Bothell, WA, Raymond (Kitty) Schwab, Kent Place, WA, and Gerald Schwab, Long Beach, CA; sisters-in-law Valerie Schwab and Sandee Schwab; many nieces, nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Simon “Sam”, Daniel and Roger Schwab; sisters Amelia Brown, Adeline Amack, Ramona Olson and Mildred Jones. Pallbearers will be Leonard’s grandchildren Benjamin and Katelyn Kjelland, Cole, Ryan, Trevor and Alex Schwab. Honorary Pallbearers will be Leonard’s brothers, Claude, Raymond and Gerald and his grandson and namesake, Leonard Kjelland. Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Friday, April 22, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Reading Scripture will be Katelyn Kjelland and Alex Schwab. Gift Bearers will be Leonard’s nieces, Wanda (Schwab) Asperheim, Larimore, ND and Cris (Schwab) Stokke, Chaffee, ND. Music will be provided by River Road.