NEW ULM–Michael C. Schwartz, age 82, of New Ulm passed away Sunday, December 28th, 2025, at the Sleepy Eye Rehabilitation Center with his wife and daughter at his side. Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – NORTH Chapel. Burial will follow in the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery.Military Honors will be provided by the New Ulm Area Comrades of Valor Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 4:00 -7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 2nd, 2026, at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – NORTH Chapel and will continue one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday.

Michael is survived by his wife, Lisa (Miller) ; his two daughters Shirleen Reinarts – Lamberton, MN, Brenda (Gene) Byer-New Ulm, MN: Six grandchildren Spike (Jesse) Brey-Isanti, MN, Amanda (Mark) Peterson-New London, MN, Dakota Brey-Michigan, Cody (Alain) Buechner-Anchorage, AK, Nicki Buechner (Lon)-New Ulm, MN, and Erin (Dustin) West-Mankato, MN: Seven great grandchildren: Sister Mary Ellen Domeier-New Ulm, MN. Brothers Charles Schwartz-Washington D.C., Jim (Mary Lu) Schwartz-New Ulm, MN, and sister in-law Monica Schwartz-Sun City, AZ. Also survived by in laws, Mary Nelson-Jordan, MN, Dick Miller-Oakland, MN, John (Alana) Miller-Oakland, MN, Steve Berhow-Oakland, MN, Heidi (Loran) Sellner, Sleepy Eye, MN, and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Robert Schwartz, brother in-law Robert (Butch) Domeier, sister-in-law Beth Berhow.

Michael Charles Schwartz was born April 22, 1943, to Emanuel and Leona (Eichers) Schwartz in New Ulm. He enjoyed growing up in Goosetown and spending time by the river. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1961. He served in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1966, spending most of his service at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE. He worked at Kraft Foods for 32 years and retired in 1998 and appreciated every day of his 27 years of retirement. Lisa and Mike were married for 25 years, and for 35 years were true partners in most everything they did.

Country living was his ideal lifestyle, with plenty of space, privacy, and a shop to build, make, fix and fix some more. Watching nature around their property, including the deer, pheasants, swans and eagles, was a favorite pastime while he also enjoyed hunting, trapping, and fishing. He was a man who appreciated predictability, routine, a dependable tractor, lunch at Carl’s Corner in Essig, his companion dogs, as well as peace and quiet at home with Lisa and family. He had a quick wit and a great sense of humor and tried to put a smile on people’s faces. Christmas was where he really excelled and enjoyed gift giving with meaning and humor. Puzzle boxes for the kids, old fashioned mesh stockings (filled with his favorite candy and Rudolph red noses) and special donut-themed gifts (for Brenda) were his trademarks. He believed Christmas was about gifts and liked to have lots of them. He worked hard at finding the “just right” gift for his siblings that would leave them saying “what in the world am I to do with this!” In the winter he could be persuaded to spend a week somewhere warm like Florida, on a cruise ship, or Nevada. He enjoyed the adventures yet was always ready and happy to get home. He was a one of a kind guy and will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him.

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