Paul Schwanz

Paul E. Schwanz, 82, of Pierre, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Memorial Celebration of Life:  5:00pm, Saturday, May 17, 2025 at First Baptist Church 

CLICK HERE to watch Paul’s service.

Paul Edwin Schwanz was born on September 11th, 1942 to Clarence and Leta Schwanz, in Richmond, California. Times were tough and the Schwanz family was struggling, literally surviving on potatoes the previous summer. There were five mouths to feed already: Mom, Dad, two older brothers, and an older sister. They lived in a tent with a dirt floor and slept on straw, covered with blankets. After a snake wandered through the tent one night, folks from their church helped them build slightly better accommodations. A floor with walls that went up four feet high, topped by the tent as their roof seemed like a mansion by comparison. This was the home Paul was born into.

Paul’s dad was a carpenter by trade, and the family moved a number of times, wherever Clarence could find work. This gave Paul the opportunity to experience life growing up in the Black Hills of Idaho, on the plains of Kansas, and along the coast of California. Paul loved the outdoors and the adventure of exploring streets and trails on his bike. He would never lose this love, endlessly crisscrossing the nation years later on various family vacations to explore new parks and natural wonders.

One of Paul’s first trips across the country by himself took him to God’s Bible School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended high school and then college. Even as a young man, he sought purpose and identity in understanding God’s word. It was here that he met his partner for life, Colleen June. They married on February 18th, 1966 and were blessed with three children, Victoria Sue, Paul Edwin (II), and Karen Annette.

After working a few jobs that didn’t pan out, Paul settled into a position at Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio. Over the next twenty-seven years, he worked tirelessly in their labs, warehouses, and railyard, eventually jumping at the opportunity to be retrained as an electrician. Paul loved knowledge and understanding and was constantly looking to learn new things. For a time, he returned to school to pursue a Master’s degree in chemistry. During another season, he earned his private pilot’s license. But Paul’s dreams and ambitions were always secondary to the needs of his family. He worked hard to ensure their needs were always met, even if that meant he had to make personal sacrifices.

After accepting an early retirement from Proctor & Gamble, Paul started a second career as an over-the-road trucker. Whether navigating eighteen-wheelers across the country or driving with Colleen through New England or even up to Alaska, Paul was rarely happier than when he was behind a wheel, watching the beautiful countryside slip by while anticipating whatever new sights and adventures lay ahead.

Paul has now embarked on his final adventure, reuniting with Colleen, who he has missed terribly over the past eight years, and getting to meet his Savior face-to-face. This, along with the life and legacy that he leaves behind, is worth celebrating.

Paul is survived by his children, Victoria (Russell) Jones, Paul (Carolyn) Schwanz, and Karen (Warren) Shelton; his grandchildren, McKayla and Mandolin Kinsworthy; Samuel Schwanz, Chelsea Williams, Tucker, Weston, and Cordell Shelton, Heather Brewsaugh, and Tara Back; his greatgrandchildren, Colton, Wyatt, and Levi Brewsaugh; Bentley and Lily Shelton; Mason and Sawyer Back; and Asher Matamoros; and siblings Keith Schwanz, Sharon Thompson, and Ruth Peterson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Colleen; his parents, Clarance and Leta; and his siblings, Stan Schwanz and Marilyn Carpenter.