Albert Anton Schwegel

Albert Anton Schwegel, 93, passed away quietly on Oct. 9, 2015.

Al was born in Hines, Minn., on May 18, 1922. He was the fourth of 11 children born to Mike and Otillia Schwegel.

On Oct. 26, 1942, Al was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Al served as a ball turret gunner and was stationed in England.

On Jan 11, 1944 he was shot down over Germany and sent to prison camp Stalag 17-B where he spent 489 days as a POW before being liberated. Al finally returned home to his family on June 15, 1945.

On July 16, 1949 Al married Betty Lou Corne. They started their family on their own farm outside of Blackduck, Minn., where they had seven children.

In June, 1968, they moved to Whitefish where their eighth child was born.

Al worked for American Timber Co. until his retirement in 1983. Al was preceded in death by all of his siblings; his wife, Betty Lou Schwegel; a daughter, Lori Schwegel; and a grandson, Chase Hart.

He is survived by his remaining seven children, Thomas (Clarissa) Schwegel of Whitefish, Robert (Theora) Schwegel of Helena, Luanne Sagen of Whitefish, David (Penny) Schwegel of Fairbanks, Alaska, Roy (Cheryl) Schwegel of Whitefish, Gerald (Christine) Schwegel of Olney, and Lee Ann (RD) Giesy of Whitefish, as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Al remained in the family home until February 2015 at which point he was transferred to the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls until his passing.

Funeral services were Oct. 16 at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Whitefish.

A special thank you to the Montana Veterans Home staff for their exceptional care of our Dad.

In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations be made to the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls or for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Columbia Mortuary is caring for Al’s family.