Obituary of James Edwin Schwartz

James Edwin Schwartz, 89, passed away November 13, 2024. 

Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 22, 2024 at St. Andrew Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2024 at St. Andrew Catholic Church. 

Interment: 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 25, 2024 at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Memorials: St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Andrew Catholic Church or The Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur at Our Lady of Victory (OLV)

Jim was born on February 12, 1935 in Coleraine, Minnesota to John and Mildred Schwartz, the third of eleven children.  He graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1954. While in high school, he served as class president for three of the four years.  Jim went to Boys Nation in Washington DC where he was elected Lieutenant Governor for the state of Minnesota for Boys Nation of Minnesota and was privileged to shake hands and meet with President Eisenhower.   Jim played football, basketball and ran track all through his high school years.  He held the state record for low hurdles for the state of Minnesota for many years.    

Upon graduation, Jim enlisted in the US Air Force after he turned down an appointment to the Naval Academy because he figured if things got bad, he could sleep on the ground and not have to swim.  After completing basic training, he was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas.   This is where he met the love of his life, Mary Pick, at a dance sponsored by the nursing school where Mary was a student.  Jim and Mary were married April 18, 1960, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mary’s hometown of Muenster, Texas.  After his tour in the Air Force, Jim began his lifelong career in banking.  He graduated from Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University, that further strengthened his career in banking.   While Jim began his career in bookkeeping, he ended his career, retiring as a Vice-President of the bank.

He was an active member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Fort Worth and twice served as president of the St. Andrew Catholic School Board.  He was very proud of the fact that he was able to send all of his children through Catholic school and college.  Jim found his second love – golf, when he was in his late twenties and continued playing throughout his life.  His favorite golf memories were two hole-in-ones in 2011 and again 2016 and being able to shoot his age every year from 75 to 88.  Jim was responsible for passing his love of golf onto his children.  Jim really enjoyed the friendships he made with his golfing buddies at the course.  In addition to golf, Jim gardened in the backyard, providing both vegetables and an education about plants to his kids.  Jim loved being a Papa to his grandchildren.  He played games with them, read to them, and attended their sporting events, plays, and music recitals, all to show his support for each of them individually.  Additionally, if there was a baby or a dog in the room, he was the first to share his love and attention.

 Jim is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary.  Children: Jim, Phil (Dana), and Greg (Shelly) Schwartz and Janet (Bob) Matzen; his grandchildren, Hannah (Will) King, Sarah, Micah, Emma, Ellie and Colin Schwartz and Abby Smith; siblings, Jack, Gerald, Paul Schwartz, Beverly Hicks and Donna Dimich; and numerous nieces and nephews.  Jim considered his bonus family, Victor Test, Mike and Carol Graves, their children, and many, many other friends whom he welcomed into his home.