Former New Bremen resident Louise M. J. Schwartz, 88, died at 3:05 p.m. Feb. 5, 2010, at Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Community.

She was born Sept. 12, 1921, in Maria Stein, to Henry John and Magdalena F. Hoelscher Rutschilling. On Sept. 25, 1946, she married Lawrence Schwartz, who died Oct. 22, 2000.

Surviving are her children, Betty (Gene) Will of Minster, Beverly (Tom) Strasburg of St. Marys, James (Laura) Schwartz of Wapakoneta and Roger (Kathy) Schwartz of Mooresville, N.C.; three sisters, Margaret Bruns of Minster, Mary Agnes Boeckman of Coldwater, and Jeanette Thobe of New Knoxville; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Deceased is her brother, Wilferd Rutschilling.

A homemaker, she was a member of the Church of the Holy Redeemer in New Bremen, where she was director of religious education for several years. She was a member of the American Legion Post 241 Auxiliary of New Bremen.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church, the Rev. Thomas Mannebach officiating. Burial will follow at the German Protestant Cemetery in New Bremen. Calling is 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen and 9:30 to 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. The rosary will be prayed at 10 a.m.

Memorials may be made to the State of the Heart Hospice.