William A. "Bill" Schwartzenberger

William “Bill” A. Schwartzenberger, 70 of New Rockford formerly of Devils Lake, ND died on Monday, March 15, 2010 at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford. Funeral Services for Bill will be held on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. William A. “Bill” Schwartzenberger was born on August 11, 1939 in Grand Forks, ND to Valentine and Margaret (Burkhartsmeier) Schwartzenberger. After a six year hitch in the Navy as a diesel mechanic, Bill tried several endeavors in the Devils Lake area. Finally, the Alaska pipeline beckoned and he drove semi on some of the most dangerous roadways in the country. After leaving Alaska, Bill did landscaping in southern California and Washington state. He moved back to Devils Lake to be near his aging mother and began driving semi again. Before retiring to care for Margaret full-time, he was awarded Driver of the Year at Pro Transport. Bill was a loner most of his life until he moved home to care for his mother. After the loss of his mother in January 2010, he seemed to lose the will to live and passed away on March 15, 2010. Bill is survived by his twin sister, Millie Votendahl of Huntington Beach, California; brother, Louis (Mary) Schwartzenberger of Vancouver, Washington; sister, Elaine Jackson of Waverly, Iowa; brother, Ron (Suzi) Schwartzenberger of Strathmore, California and brother, Rick “Buzz” (Bunki) Schwartzenberger of Lytle Creek, California. He is also survived by ten nieces and nephews including his godson, Tony and twenty-seven great nieces and great nephews and two great great nieces. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers-in-law and four nephews.