Swartz, Menno Simon (1876-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Aug 27 p. 8

Birth date: 1876 Aug 25

text of obituary:

M. S. SWARTZ

M. S. Swartz, 82, resident of Limon, Colo. area since 1920, died at the Mennonite hospital in La Junta after an ilness [sic] of several years duration. He was well-known in this area as an auctioneer when he first came here and had also done considerable auctioning before coming to Limon.

Menno Simon Swartz was born at Wellman, Ia. Aug. 25, 1876, one of 15 children. He was married to Helena V. Miller at Wellman Nov. 28, 1897. This couple had two children, Mrs. Viola Van Berg of Columbus, Neb. and a son, Willis, who died at the age of three years.

The family made their home in Iowa for several years and then, in hopes of improving his health, they moved to Aurora, Neb. They lived at Aurora until 1920 when they moved to the Limon area to a farm southwest of town.

He is survived by his wife, Helena V. of Limon, a daughter, Mrs. Viola Van Berg of Columbus, Neb.; one brother, Ben Swartz of Upland, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Barbara Slagell of La Junta; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Willis, and 13 brothers and sisters.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Limon Methodist church with Rev. Binford W. Gilbert officiating. “Beyond the Sunset,” “Till We Meet Again” and “In the Garden” were played by Mrs. LaRue Frasier on the orgon [sic]. Burial was in the Evergreen cemetery in Hugo.