Maurice "Morris" L. Schwan

Maurice L. “Morris” Schwan, age 89 passed away on Monday, June 13, 2022 at CHI, St. Alexius Health, Devils Lake Hospital.

Visitation will be on Thursday, June 16^th at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m.  There will be a 4^th Degree Knights of Columbus Honor Guard and the Rosary will be led by the Knights of Columbus. Mass of Christian Burial for Maurice will be on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.

Maurice was born on December 16, 1932 in the farm home in Pierce County, near Fulda ND to Denis and Barbara (Volk) Schwan, the 13^th child in a family of 15. He attended school in Fulda and attended St. Anselm’s Catholic Church, until age 9.

He then moved with the family to a farm southwest of Cando, ND. He attended Metcalf Township School and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  In 1947, the family moved to a farm northeast of Devils Lake and he again was enrolled in a township school and later St. Mary’s Academy. When his parents retired and moved into Devils Lake in 1957, Maurice continued farming the family farm.

Maurice was united in marriage to Rosemary Ripplinger on June 17, 1958 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devils Lake by Father Maurice Jaeger. They have been blessed with 64 years of marriage.

They farmed and ranched together, raising four children, Allen, Dianne, Mark, and Brian. He loved farming, raising small grain crops and all kinds of livestock. He loved his cattle, and was so very proud of the many awards his children received when entering livestock, and also garden, grain, and sewing in 4-H. He really liked horses and cattle, setting up ranching in Benson County, which is now being managed by his grandson Joe Pearce. He planted many, many, trees and was the recipient of the Soil Conservation Award for Ramsey County in 1971. 

The family were members of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Crary for a number of years. His children attended Crary school and later the children attended St. Joseph’s School and St. Mary’s Academy.

Maurice was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, life member of Knights of Columbus and 4^th Degree. He also enjoyed membership in the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, Elks Lodge and Eagles Lodge. Maurice especially enjoyed family get-togethers and family reunions. The Schwan family had a reunion each year and he never missed a one. He enjoyed watching rodeo’s and football on TV, fishing and hunting.

Maurice's loving family include his wife Rosemary; children Allen Schwan, Warwick ND, Dianne (Sam) Pearce, Pinedale WY, Mark (Diane) Schwan and Brian Schwan all of Devils Lake; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren and one on the way; sister Fran Schwan, Devils Lake; brother Simon Schwan, McVille ND; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Phyllis Lovett Rank, Hitchcock SD, Raymond (Sally Gaa) Ripplinger, Loveland CO, Peter (Jeanette Gust) Ripplinger, Jamestown ND, Frances Walker, Walcott ND; many nieces, nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Vincent (Barbara Schell) Schwan, David (Betty Lamb) Schwan and Ignatius “Al” Schwan, sisters Marianne (Joseph) Lauinger, Sr. Barbara Marie Schwan, Margaret (John) Brinster, Mathilda (Stanford) Burkholder, Monica (Melford) Nelson, Berta (Richard) Schell, Ottilia Schwan at age 6, two sisters as infants, sister-in-law Patricia Richardson Schwan and father-in-law and mother-in-law Peter and Mary (Kurtz) Ripplinger.