Thomas Joseph Schwinn
December 21, 1931 — July 19, 2009
Rev. Thomas J. Schwinn, a resident of DeSoto, Wisconsin, died peacefully in Gunderson Hospital in LaCrosse, on Sunday, July 19, 2009, He was 77 years old. Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 22, 2009, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Fairfax, by Archbishop Daniel Kucera OSB. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at the church, where visitation will end with a prayer service and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Burial: St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Fairfax. Arrangements by Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids.
In addition to his sister, Betty (Paul) Phelan, Father Tom is survived by an older brother, Bob; many nieces and nephews; many friends; former parishioners and others he touched through a life of service.
Two brothers, Dr. Pete Schwinn and Donald Schwinn, Esq. preceded him in death.
Father Tom was the fifth of five children of Charles and Mary Schwinn. He was born December 21, 1931, and grew up in Cedar Rapids.
He was ordained February 1, 1958, at St. Raphael Cathedral by Archbishop Leo Binz. His first assignment was as an associate at Sacred Heart in Oelwein. He was appointed to Immaculate Conception, Lansing, in 1963, and to St. Mary’s, Cascade in 1968. In 1974, he was named to the faculty of Aquin High School, Cascade. During this time he also served at Holy Trinity, Baldwin, and St. Peter’s, Temple Hill, until being appointed an associate at St. Patrick’s, Cedar Rapids, in 1976. In 1977, he was named pastor of St. Mary’s, Dorchester, and St. Mary’s, Hanover, returning as pastor of St. Mary’s, Cascade, in 1979. He was appointed pastor of Holy Name, West Union, in 1986, St. Francis of Assisi, Fayette, in 1992 and to St. Patrick’s, Fairfax, and Hold Trinity, Walford, in 1994. Father Schwinn has been retired since 2001. He celebrated his 50th anniversary in the priesthood in 2008.
In addition to his sister, Betty (Paul) Phelan, Father Tom is survived by an older brother, Bob; many nieces and nephews; many friends; former parishioners and others he touched through a life of service.
Two brothers, Dr. Pete Schwinn and Donald Schwinn, Esq. preceded him in death.
Father Tom was the fifth of five children of Charles and Mary Schwinn. He was born December 21, 1931, and grew up in Cedar Rapids.
He was ordained February 1, 1958, at St. Raphael Cathedral by Archbishop Leo Binz. His first assignment was as an associate at Sacred Heart in Oelwein. He was appointed to Immaculate Conception, Lansing, in 1963, and to St. Mary’s, Cascade in 1968. In 1974, he was named to the faculty of Aquin High School, Cascade. During this time he also served at Holy Trinity, Baldwin, and St. Peter’s, Temple Hill, until being appointed an associate at St. Patrick’s, Cedar Rapids, in 1976. In 1977, he was named pastor of St. Mary’s, Dorchester, and St. Mary’s, Hanover, returning as pastor of St. Mary’s, Cascade, in 1979. He was appointed pastor of Holy Name, West Union, in 1986, St. Francis of Assisi, Fayette, in 1992 and to St. Patrick’s, Fairfax, and Hold Trinity, Walford, in 1994. Father Schwinn has been retired since 2001. He celebrated his 50th anniversary in the priesthood in 2008.
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