Albert Anton Schwegel, 93
Albert Anton Schwegel, 93, passed away quietly on Oct. 9, 2015.
Al was born in Hines, Minnesota, on May 18, 1922. He was the fourth of 11 children born to Mike and Otillia Schwegel.
On Oct. 26, 1942, Al was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he obtained the rank of staff sergeant. Al served as a ball turret gunner and was stationed in England. On Jan 11, 1944, he was shot down over Germany and sent to prison camp Stalag 17-B where he spent 489 days as a POW before being liberated. Al finally returned home to his family on June 15, 1945.
On July 16, 1949, Al married Betty Lou Corne. They started their family on their own farm outside of Blackduck, Minnesota, where they had seven children. In June 1968 they moved to Whitefish where their eighth child was born. Al worked for American Timber Co. until his retirement in 1983.
Al was preceded in death by all of his siblings; his wife, Betty Lou Schwegel; a daughter, Lori Schwegel; and a grandson, Chase Hart.
He is survived by his remaining seven children, Thomas and Clarissa Schwegel of Whitefish, Robert and Theora Schwegel of Helena, Luanne Sagen of Whitefish, David and Penny Schwegel of Fairbanks, Alaska, Roy and Cheryl Schwegel of Whitefish, Gerald and Christine Schwegel of Olney, and Lee Ann and RD Giesy of Whitefish; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Al remained in the family home until February of 2015, at which point he was transferred to the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls until his passing.
A vigil will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Whitefish. Inurnment will immediately follow church services at Whitefish Cemetery. Please join the family at the Whitefish VFW after inurnment.
A special thank you to the Montana Veterans Home staff for their exceptional care of our dad.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Columbia Mortuary is caring for Al’s family.