- Date Of Birth: April 7, 1920
- Date Of Death: August 4, 2017
- State: Idaho
William “Bill” Schweitzer, 97, passed away at a local care facility surrounded by family and friends on August 4, 2017. Bill was born in Fredonia, North Dakota on April 21, 1920 to Gottfried and Rosina Schweitzer. He was the 8th of 9 children born to them. After the passing of Rosina, his father remarried and Bill became the 4th youngest of a family of 16, full, half and step brothers and sisters. He was a first-generation American. Growing up in a multi-cultural community his native language was German but he learned how to speak Finnish and Norwegian from his friends and classmates. He learned to speak and write English in a one room school house. After completing the 8th grade his education ceased as he was needed to work the family farm.
He briefly served in the Civilian Conservation Corps prior to entering the U.S. Army. During WWII, he was assigned to the 129th Infantry (Feb. 1942 to June 1946) where he was a mortar platoon squad leader in the Pacific Theater. He was action in Fiji, New Hebrides, New Guinea, then Admiralty Islands, The Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal (his first Purple Heart), Bougainville and the Philippines (his second purple heart).
Once discharged Bill returned home, then headed west to make a new life.
Bill met his soulmate Darlene Myers in Boise and they were married on September 30, 1948. Their marriage of 68 years has served as a testimony of love and devotion to each other, family, friends, and everyone who has been blessed by their example. Bill is survived by his wife, Darlene, daughter Linda (Dave) Babcock and grand puppy Odie (Boise), son J. (Diane) Schweitzer (Boise), 3 grandchildren Kyle (Hailey, ID.), Alex (Boise, ID) and Spencer (Reno, NV), and innumerable nieces and nephews.
Bill enjoyed wood working, golf, vegetable gardening, Bingo, puzzles and working around his house that he built in 1956. He particularly loved playing cards (cribbage and pinochle) with anyone who walked through his door.
He was outgoing and friendly to all he met whether human or animal. Everyone took an immediate liking to him.
We are all blessed for having him in our lives. He will be remembered in love by his family as a wonderful husband, father and grandpa and by others he will be remembered as a fun loving, trusted and loyal friend. We know he is now known by God as a “good and faithful servant”.
The family would like to express its appreciation to all the caring and loving staff of Horizon Hospice, Homewatch Caregivers, and Valley View Assisted Living that worked so hard and diligently to make Bill’s final days more comfortable.
