Joanne Schwager

Joanne Schwager, age 78, of New Liberty, passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024, at her home. According to her wishes, services will be private at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Davenport. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisted the family with arrangements.

Joanne was born on April 3, 1945, in Springbrook, to Arnold and Alverda (Michel) Heiar. She was united in marriage to Donald Schwager on May 29, 1965, in Springbrook. She worked for Brock Lumber for a few years while also assisting area families with tending their households and helping with their children, much like a nannie would do today. Joanne enjoyed cooking, baking, and was an avid animal lover. She had a knack for nursing stray kittens to health that wandered onto the farm. She learned how to shoot a rifle as a young girl and turned into an excellent marksman.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Donald; children, Peggy Schwager, and Scott (Inez) Schwager; grandchildren, Ali (Nathan) Eshelmen, Brittney (Ethan) Toomey, and Jacquelynn (Isaac Ensminger) Schwager.

In addition to her parents, Joanne was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Erika Schwager; sister and her husband, Mary Etta and Jack Dunne; brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Mary Jo Heiar; brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Marla Schwager; mother and father-in-law, Sylvester and Martha Schwager.