Frank Schwartzenburg

Frank Charles Schwartzenburg, Sr. passed away peacefully in the company of his family at 10:45 PM on January 16, 2013, at his home in Marshalltown, Iowa, just two weeks before his 85th birthday.Frank was born on January 31, 1928, in Marksville, Louisiana, to Errol Leo Schwartzenburg and Myrl Catherine (Dupuy) Schwartzenburg. He graduated from Marksville High School and attended Georgia Tech, Southwestern Louisiana Institute and Louisiana State University. Frank served his country in the US Navy, and later in the US Army, retiring from the Army Reserve at the rank of Captain, having seen active service in China with the Navy in the 1940s, and with the Army during the Korean War.He met the great love of his life, Floy May Langford, of Coweta Oklahoma, during his time in the Navy when they were both living in California. Frank and Floy were married on September 5, 1948, in Marksville Louisiana, and remained married and deeply in love for 57 years, parted only by Floys death in 2005. They had six children: Frank Charles Schwartzenburg, Jr. (Gloria) of Woodbridge, VA; Nada Marie (Robert Ted) Schwartzenburg Burns of Dallas, TX; Gail Catherine (Frank) Schwartzenburg Webb of Doha, Qatar and Port Orchard, WA; David Errol (Beverley) Schwartzenburg of Lexington Park, MD; John Walter Van (Debra) Schwartzenburg of Houston and Muldoon, TX; and Irvin Joseph (Kayleen) Schwartzenburg of Marshalltown, IA. Frank was a strong supporter of his six children and was very proud of their accomplishments.Life with Frank was never dull, as he kept things moving and was always ready for new adventures. He and Floy made their home in Marksville, Shreveport, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, before settling in Marshalltown, Iowa in December, 2004 to be close to Irvin, his wife Kayleen, and their four children. Frank worked in a number of professions, including as a grocer, hydraulic equipment salesman, and safety inspector at the Army Ammunition Plant in Minden, Louisiana. Most of all, Frank enjoyed his work as an insurance agent for Continental Family Life and other insurance companies, which allowed him to continually meet and help new people. Frank had a number of hobbies and was a passionate flower gardener, enthusiastic camper, and avid collector with varied interests.Like Will Rogers, Frank never met a stranger. His caring and outgoing personality kept him active in the community, contributing as a Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 11 at St Josephs Catholic Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, for a number of years; mentoring troubled youth in Iowa; and meeting and helping new friends at every opportunity. A man of faith, he was active in a number of churches in Louisiana, and Iowa.Frank was preceded in death by his beloved wife Floy and his cherished mother and father. He is survived and will be deeply missed by his sister, Elaine Schwartzenburg Edwards; his brother, Ralph Errol Schwartzenburg; his six children; his sixteen grandchildren; and his four great grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and relatives; and countless friends. Were all sad to be without Frank, but are happy to know that, having given his trust to Christ; he has been reunited with Floy in Heaven.Frank was cremated on Friday, January 18 after a private family ceremony at the Mitchell Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Condolences for the family may be expressed on the Mitchell Family Funeral Home website (www.mitchellfh.com). He will be interred alongside his beloved Floy in the Elmwood Cemetery in Wagoner, Oklahoma, not far from Floys parents, this summer after their eldest son, Frank Jr., returns from Afghanistan. Details of the graveside service will be made available on the Mitchell Funeral Home website (www.mitchellfh.com) when they become available. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Iowa River Hospice (www.iowariverhospice.org), who were such a great help to him; or to the Wounded Warrior Program ( www.woundedwarriorproject.org ) to support a generation of his fellow veterans.