Submitted by: Dan Rich

Mary Lou Schwartz

June 3, 1940 - Feb. 1, 2002

South Bend Tribune 2/3/2002

Mary Lou Schwartz, 61, of River Pointe Place, Mishawaka, Ind., passed away at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1st, in St. Mary's Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Mary Lou was born on June 3, 1940, in South Bend, Ind., as the daughter of Dar and Dorothy (Stone) Wiekamp.

On Aug. 17, 1963, in First United Methodist Church, as Mary Lou Wiekamp, she married Dennis Schwartz. Mary Lou is survived by her parents Dar and Dorothy Wiekamp of Mishawaka; her husband, Dennis; a son, Jim (Julie) Schwartz of Granger, Ind.; a granddaughter, Jennifer Jo Schwartz, and a grandson, J.T. Schwartz; her mother-in-law, Kathleen M. Ross; her cousins, Jane (Roger) Wright, Scott (Katie), Maya Wright and Ann Wright, Chuck (Nancy) Zimmerman, Jenny Zimmerman and Donald Zimmerman, Sharon (Ronald) Showalter, Greg (Gloria) Showalter, Rev. and Mrs. Jennifer (Phil) Hohulin; and by her uncles, Lester (Iris) Wiekamp and Gerald D. (Bonnie) Wiekamp.

Mary Lou was a graduate of Northwestern University with a BA in education. Mary Lou had many interests. She was always working on and concerned about how to help her community. She always believed in the importance of helping others in need. She was a member of the Junior League of South Bend for 27 years. She was a past board member for various organizations including the Northern Indiana Center for History and the Family and Children Center Foundation. She was very active in her church, First United Methodist Church of Mishawaka. Mary Lou enjoyed leading an active life and, in particular, her travel tennis team. She was a member of the Morris Park Country Club and could be frequently found discussing her most recent golf scores. Mary Lou was a great competitor.

Mary Lou will be most remembered for her lust for life. Those who think of Mary Lou knew her as a person with great energy. She enjoyed traveling. She had great friends with whom she loved to laugh. The most important part of her life was her family. She had tremendous dedication to the ones she loved, always taking care of them and watching out for them. No matter where you found Mary Lou, she was never far from family. In most recent years, she found great joy rearranging her life to be as close to her grandchildren as possible. They loved their Mema. Mary Lou was a terrific daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, cousin, niece, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law and friend. During her life, we have all learned a great deal from her. She will be greatly missed by our arms, but never far from our hearts.

Friends may call from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5, in First United Methodist Church, Mishawaka. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, in the church, with Pastor Lorin Clemenz officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Mishawaka.

Contributions in memory of Mary Lou may be made to the Junior League Endowment Fund, 130 Park Lane, South Bend, IN 46601; or to the First United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, 201 E. 3rd Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544. The Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544, is handling arrangements.