Sister Donna Schwager (1929-2013)

SCHWAGER, GOSCHA

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 9/5/2018 at 08:40:36

Sister Donna Schwager, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, 84, died Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse, Wis., while recuperating from recent heart surgery.

Sister Donna was born on Feb. 26, 1929, to Antone and Mathilda (Goscha) Schwager in Andrew, Iowa. She entered St. Rose Convent in 1946.

Entering the field of education, Sister Donna served as an elementary teacher for twenty years in parochial schools in Montana, Washington, and Wisconsin. She earned a degree in library science and was librarian at Kuemper High School, Carroll, Iowa, for six years before moving to La Crosse, and working in the Viterbo College library until 1987. Sister Donna then served her FSPA community as a receptionist and driver at St. Rose Convent. She retired in 1997, but continued to catalog books for many other schools, St. Rose Convent, Villa St. Joseph, Marywood Spirituality Center in Arbor Vitae, Wis., and even Bondolfi College in Zimbabwe. For several years she managed the media center at St. Rose. She moved to St. Rose Convent in 2009.

Sister Donna is survived by her Franciscan community; her brother, Wilfred (Phyllis) Schwager, Bellevue, Iowa; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Antone, Sylvester, Vincent, Stephen, Alfred and Bennett; and her sisters, Armella (Mrs. Agnitsch) and Sister Mary Stephen Schwager, OSF.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, at St. Rose Convent. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel. The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 14, in the chapel. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse. Dickinson Family Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market St., La Crosse, Wis., 54601-4782.

La Crosse Tribune, October 12 2013