William A. Schwannecke

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away Saturday, February 19, 2022. Age 93 years. The son of the late Arthur and Clara (Haeusler) Schwannecke, Bill was born September 12, 1928 in Saginaw, Michigan. He graduated from St. Mary’s Cathedral High School in 1946. He then attended Bay City Junior College where he received an associate’s degree in accounting. He served in the U.S. National Guard for 6 years. He married Ella Archambault on February 14, 1953. They were blessed to have a daughter, Sandra (John) Harden, and a son, Kim Schwannecke, all of Saginaw. Ella predeceased him in 1990. On June 13, 1992, Bill married Magdalene (Maggie) Toma (Bowden) on June 13, 1992. She survives him with two children from a previous marriage, a daughter, Pamela A. Bowden, Anchorage, Alaska, and friend, Jane Straight and Rick D. (Cindy) Bowden of Kalamazoo, Michigan; five grandchildren, Ryan (Becki) Harden, Freeland; Adam Harden, Saginaw; Alexandra (Jonathan) Jurenka, Freeland; Matthew Bowden and Megan Bowden, Kalamazoo; three great-grandsons, Ryan II, Ian and Cole Harden; two great-granddaughters, Ella and Anna Jurenka, all of Freeland; brother-in-law, Fred Toma and sisters-in-law, Irene Ebenhoeh, Chesaning; Elizabeth Angst, Dimondale; many nieces and nephews and special friends. Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Frances B. Hatch; a brother, Robert Schwannecke, and his wife Jackie Schwannecke; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Arlene Polash, LeRoy Angst, Joseph Toma, John Toma and Rosemary Toma.

Bill founded Self Serve Lumber and Home Center in 1953; along with his father, Arthur, and his brother, Robert, they worked side by side in the family business. In 2013, Bill became the sole owner of Self Serve Lumber. He was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church and a previous member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, St. Stephen Catholic Church and St. Mary Cathedral. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council #8808 and Bishop Albers Assembly #496 in Lansing, Michigan. Bill was a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Saginaw Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Lumber Dealers Association, Michigan Hardware Association, Germania Town and Country Club, Saginaw Country Club and the Saginaw Downtown Lions Club. Bill volunteered at the Eastside Soup Kitchen which was very near and dear to him. He served the Eastside Soup Kitchen in numerous capacities.

Funeral Liturgy will take place 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 24, 2022 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1035 N. River Rd., in Saginaw. Rev. Fr. Peter Gaspeny, Rev. Fr. Robert Byrne and Rev. Fr. John Johnson will officiate with burial in St. Andrew Cemetery. Friends may visit at The Snow Funeral Home, 3775 N. Center Rd., (between Shattuck and McCarty), where the family will be present on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass. The Knights of Columbus Council #8808 will pray the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Eastside Soup Kitchen, Holy Spirit Catholic Church or the charity of their choice.