Gary was called to his eternal rest Monday afternoon, March 14, 2022, at his home in St. James, Minn. Visitation was held Friday, March 18, also at Augustana Lutheran Church in St. James. Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.kramerfuneralhome.com

Gary Martin Schwanz was born March 6, 1949, to Martin and Doris (Becker) Schwanz at St. James Hospital in St. James, Minn. He attended South Branch School until the 8th grade and then attended and later graduated from St. James High School with the class of 1967. He started playing softball in South Branch then played baseball and football at St. James High School. He grew up on a farm in South Branch Township. Gary worked at Bloomquist Gas Station. After graduation from high school, he attended Jackson Vocational School. He then drove semi truck for 48 years for various trucking firms, the first was Nelson Ford hauling Keebler Cookie Trucks where he learned from Bill Finnestad. Gary then drove for Ag-Chem hauling large farm equipment, then WFS where he drove grain and feed trucks, Laker Transfer where he hauled powdered milk, Runge’s Truck, Hunstad Trucking where he hauled cattle and hogs, grain, WFS (CFS) grain and feed. Gary drove for 48 years and figured about 4 million miles. He also drove school bus and motor coach off and on. On April 2, 1977, he was united in marriage to Karla Schaefer at the Covenant Church in Trimont, Minn. After their marriage they lived in St. James and raised their family. Gary was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church where he volunteered for certain church functions. He enjoyed bowling, playing slow pitch and fast pitch softball in St. James, Odin, and Truman in his younger years and played in many tournaments. Gary also enjoyed taking family and friends on boat rides and like to go fishing and golfing. He was an avid Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan. Helping farmers with their harvest in his retirement years meant a lot to him. Gary liked to meet his classmates uptown at the Eagle’s Club every third Tuesday and loved talking and visiting with family and friends. He enjoyed going to concerts and especially the music of Neil Diamond, Beach Boys, and the Four Seasons. Gary enjoyed going up to the Hometown and being with the breakfast club. He loved to visit and no one was a stranger. He is survived by his wife, Karla Schwanz of St. James, Minn.; two sons, Michael (Brooke) Schwanz of Bloomington, Minn., and Daron Schwanz of Savage, Minn.; two grandchildren, Oliver and Fiona; aunts, uncles, cousins; mother-in-law, Marlene A. Schaefer of Raeford, N.C.; step-mother-in-law, Ruth Schaefer of Winona, Minn.; brothers-in-law, Steven Schaefer of Austin, Texas, Donald Schaefer of Edgemont, S.D., Carl Schaefer of Plymouth, Minn.; sisters-in-law, Carol (Mark) Johnson of Raeford, N.C., Karen (Colin) Brown of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Jeanne Schwanz of Jamestown, N.D.; other relatives and friends. He is also survived by his uncle and godfather, George (Mary Jo) Schwanz of Blaine, Minn.; and aunt, Ruth (Herman) Wentzel of Ohio. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Doris Schwanz; brother, Gerald Schwanz; grandparents, Herman and Anna Schwanz, and Oscar and Matilda Becker; father-in-law, David Schaefer; sisters-in-law, Ann Marie Schaefer, Carol Schaefer; and other relatives.

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