Don G. Schwass

Don Gilbert Schwass. age 79 of Monmouth, passed away at 12:35 a.m., March 1, 2011 at his residence. He was born in Long Beach, Ca. on July 7,1931 the son of Gilbert C. and Lillian Williams Schwass. he graduated from Jordan High School in Long beach and attended Electronics and Appliance Repair trade schools. He worked 9 years for the Union Oil Company in California. Don married Patty J. Guilinger on August 25, 1951 in North Long Beach, Ca., she survives. He and his family moved to Monmouth in 1959. He worked for four years at Gambles Warehouse and twenty eighty years as owner and operator of Don's Appliance Service in Monmouth, he retired in 1990. Don was a Navy veteran and served during the Korean War. He was an aviation storekeeper at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station in California. He was a 38 year member of the American Legion. Don served as a Cub Scout, Weblos, and Scout Master in Monmouth. He was also a member of the Lions Club and a Lions little league coach. Don was a also a member of the Strom Center Woodcarvers, Rio Grande Valley Texas woodcarvers, and the Little York Front Loaders Black Powder Unit. He served on the Jamieson Center Board in its early years. He and his dad built a cabin on Big Bear Lake in California and built a cabin with his wife and children at the Lake of the Ozarks. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, and camping at Youngs Lake. After retiring he and his wife enjoyed traveling and spending the last 20 years wintering in Mississippi and Texas. He resided the last 40 years at Lake Warren. Surviving Don is his wife of 59 years, Patty J. Schwass of Monmouth, three sons; Jim Schwass (Lorraine) of Pattonsburg, Ill., Roy Schwass (Linda) of Kirkwood, Ill., Les Schwass (Rita) of Kirkwood, Ill. two daughters; Jan Koehler (Kenny) of Mendon, Ill., and Sue Galvan (Armando) of Monmouth. Also surviving are 18 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, one brother Kenneth Schwass (Loraine) of Ridgecrest, Ca., and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Spencer Schwass, and one great granddaughter Ciera Erickson. Services:A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth. Cremation will be accorded following the service. Don's family will be present to receive friends an hour prior to the service at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established for Jamieson Center, Strom Center, or Hospice Compassus in Galesburg.