Lyle Schwandt
March 14, 1932 ~ September 4, 2023 (age 91) 91 Years Old
Obituary
Lyle Schwandt of Chesaning made his transition to Glory on Monday, September 4, 2023, at Union Court Assisted Living, Chesaning. His age was 91 years.
Lyle was born in Brownsville, WI on March 14, 1932, to Emil and Laura Schwandt and raised on the farm. He graduated from Oshkosh High School and went to Business School, but joined the US Navy instead and served during the Korean War, as he put it, “fighting the battle of the Commissary” in Norfolk, VA.
Following his military service, Lyle returned to Wisconsin and had a Jewel Tea route and began traveling the nation delivering house trailers for Morgan Driveaway. He eventually located in Chesaning and worked at Midland-Ross Company in Owosso and operated The Hobby Shop from his home during the 60s and early 70s. He was an avid slot car racer and metal detector enthusiast and enjoyed model rockets with his family. Lyle was always a car person and enjoyed old cars and foreign automobiles. He owned many different Volkswagens and was a member of the Saginaw Old Car Club (that’s what he called it) for many years.
In 1974, Lyle married Gail Robinson Elrod and they had a combined family of six children. Recently, they celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary on August 10 . When people asked him how long he’d been married, his response was always, “a heck of a long time”.
Together with his wife, Lyle and Gail owned and operated Duraclean Quality Care for over 40 years. When he was not working, his main passion, his hobby, and fun time was spent in music. He played the acoustic and electric guitar, upright string bass, harmonica, ukulele, mandolin, banjo, mountain dulcimer as well as tuba, coronet, and baritone. Lyle was a member of the Rusty String Band for decades, playing across Michigan for many festivals and events. He conducted workshops teaching others to play string bass and guitar. He played tuba for many years with the Saginaw City Band.
Lyle was a Founding Member of the Chesaning Kiwanis Club and a member in good standing for over 30 years. Combining his passion for music and community involvement, he was the originator of Chesaning’s Got Talent Show, which became an annual event. The talent show gave an opportunity for residents in Chesaning and the surrounding areas to showcase their hidden talent while at the same time helping raise funds for sponsored Kiwanis events.
Lyle was raised in the Lutheran faith but was a member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and Trinity United Methodist Church, Chesaning for 64 years. He served as Lay Leader at Trinity Church for many years where he was also a Sunday School teacher and Youth Group Leader. He and his sons played music at church quite a lot in the late 1960s. Lyle created a ukulele group for children at his church.
Mr. Schwandt is survived by his beloved wife, Gail; their children, Stanley (Lori) Schwandt, Tracy (Linda) Schwandt, Laura Stiles (Tom Dann), Elizabeth (Brent) Bastic, Ardis Bates, and Melissa (Scott) Peters; many grandchildren, both blood and love related, and great grandchildren; his sister Dorothy Overbye in Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Janice Peraino; brother-in-law, Gary (Diane) Robinson; nieces and nephews; and other loving family and friends.
A memorial service will be held 1:30 p.m. Sunday, September 17, 2023, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1629 West Brady Road (M-57), Chesaning with Rev. Janine Plum officiating. Visitation will be Sunday at the church from 12:30 p.m. until time of the memorial service. Contributions in his memory may be given to Trinity United Methodist Church or the World Central Kitchen (make your check payable to “World Central Kitchen” and mail to: World Central Kitchen, Attn: Donor Services Team, 200 Massachusetts Ave NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20001). You may light a memorial candle or share a memory at misiukfuneralhome.com.
Lyle will be remembered for having a great smile and being just a kind person, a real gentleman. The aides at Union Court loved him and he called many of them his girlfriends. He was a kind loving soul, never complaining, and sharing his great smile with everyone.
Misiuk Funeral Home
202 S. Front Street
Chesaning, MI 48616
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lyle Schwandt, please visit our floral store.
Services
Visitation
SundaySeptember 17, 2023
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Trinity United Methodist Church
1629 West Brady Road (M-57)
Chesaning, MI 49616
Donations
Trinity United Methodist Church
1629 W. Brady Road, Chesaning MI 48616
Tel: 1-989-845-3157
Web: http://www.chesaningtrinityumc.com
World Central Kitchen
Attn: Donor Services Team, 200 Massachusetts Ave NW, 7th Floor, Washington DC 20001
Web: http://https://wck.org/
Please make your check payable to “World Central Kitchen”
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