Alfred John Schwartz

Alfred John Schwartz, 89, of St. Lawrence passed away Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Funeral Mass is set for 10:00 AM, Saturday, June 2, 2018 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Interment to follow at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery.The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Friday, June 1, 2018 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church with a rosary to follow at 7:00 PM.He was born September 24, 1928 to Ernest and Ida Schwartz and raised in Fairview. He was the fifth of nine children. Alfred served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955 as an aircraft radial engine specialist. He was stationed in Miho and Okinawa, Japan and Korea.Alfred met his true love, Anna Marie Rohmfeld and they were married on September 22, 1953. They moved to St. Lawrence in 1956, began farming and made a home there. They were blessed with seven children who were blessed with a happy, loving home.Throughout his life, Alfred served on many boards and committees including Chairman of the Festival Sausage crew for more than 40 years, numerous building committees for the St. Lawrence Parish, Cap Rock Electric Board, Glasscock County Co-Op Gin and Coyanosa Co-Op Gin boards, St. Lawrence Cotton Growers Diapause Program, which was the beginning of the eradication of the boll weevil, and many more. He was also very active in the St. Lawrence Parish.Alfred was a very generous man with a kind heart. He was always willing to help when there was a need, never expecting anything in return. He had a genuine love for people and loved to strike up conversations everywhere he went. He enjoyed meeting people, learning about them and making a connection. He never met a stranger.Alfred loved polka music and taught that love to his children. His daughters loved to dance with him in the living room on Sunday mornings. He started then out at a very young age by letting them ride on his feet until they learned to dance. He celebrated his love of polka music by attending polka fests and made many new friends. He was an avid, self-taught accordion player. He played at home, at many family gatherings and community events. His love for music extended to church. He participated in the church choir and was a great encouragement.Alfred loved fishing and hunting and had many bountiful trips. There were many fun family trips to ski at the lake and fish on the Pecos River.He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Anna Marie; six daughters Karen Streicher and husband, Gary of St. Lawrence, Shirley Braden and husband, Kenneth of St. Lawrence, Connie Zoller and husband, Alan of Lubbock, Sandra Braden and husband, Dennis of Coyanosa, Denise Halfmann and husband, Craig of San Angelo, and Carol Carter and husband, Craig of Bandera; a son Alfred Schwartz, Jr. of St. Lawrence; grandchildren Michael Streicher, Carey Brown and husband, Marshall, Kevin Streicher and wife, Cassie, April Braden, Bonnie Ware and husband, Benjamin, Lora Meyer and husband, David, Angela Zoller, Christina Zoller, Lyndsea Hoard and husband, Bryan, Brent Braden and wife, Sarah, Erika Parsons and husband, Jerry, Colleen Wilson and husband, Shawn, Mark Halfmann and wife, Jessica, Grant Schwartz and wife, Chelsie, Cayla Schwartz, Nathan Jarratt, and Brianna Jarratt; great-grandchildren Cooper and Barrett Brown, Kaylie, Shaylie and Lawson Streicher, Lila Ware, Madelyn, Braden, and Jacklynn Meyer, Kyle Zoller, Jeffery and Matthew Braden, Delaney Parsons, Caleb Wilson, Blake and Mason Halfmann, Stetson, Sierra and Bailey Schwartz; a sister Bernice Matthiesen, a sister-in-law Rose Marie, brothers Alfonse and wife, Betty, George and wife, Doris, Erwin and wife, Gloria, Johnny; and a multitude of nieces and nephews and many, many friends.He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Ida Schwartz; a brother Joe; a sister Beatrice Socha and husband, Laddie; a brother Walter and wife, Dorothy; and sisters-in-law Ruby Schwartz and Genevieve Schwartz.Alfred has left a large family that loved him dearly. We will miss him immensely. He leaves a legacy of love and kindness.The family requests memorials be made to the AACV % ARC of San Angelo, P.O. Box 1922, San Angelo, Texas 76902 or https://www.thearcofsanangelo.org/donate.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com ,