Schwarting, Bess Marie

Bess Marie Schwarting, 83, died on Saturday, June 26, 2010, at the Keokuk County Health Center, Sigourney. Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Conroy. Pastor Gary Sears will officiate. Burial will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Conroy. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Williamsburg.

Bess was born July 10, 1926, in Keystone, Iowa, the daughter of George and Emma (Erichsen) Jordt. She grew up in Van Horne and Belle Plaine and graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1944. On Aug. 12, 1945, she was united in marriage to Clifford A. Schwarting in Williamsburg. After their marriage they lived in the Homestead area. In 1955 they moved east of Williamsburg until 2000, when they moved to Oxford. She worked at Funk's in Belle Plaine, Holden's and over 20 years at the Colony Haus Restaurant. Bess enjoyed camping, bowling, playing cards and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Conroy.

She is survived by three sons: Harlan (Leota) Schwarting, Williamsburg; Gary (Leanne) Schwarting, Oxford; and Allen (Linda) Schwarting, Williamsburg; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and a brother-in-law, Duane (Darlene) Schwarting of Homestead. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband in December 2009; three brothers: Elmer, Donald and Oliver; and two sisters: Delpha Van Scoyoc and Irene Jordt.

A memorial fund has been established for the Keokuk/Mahaska Hospice.

Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.