Bernard Joseph Schwind, Sr.

BERNARD J. SCHWIND, SR. Bernard Joseph Schwind, Sr., 91, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, great-uncle, great great uncle, went to his heavenly reward on October 5, 2013, at his home in Perrysburg, Ohio, surrounded by his loving family. “Barney” was born in Perrysburg on June 9, 1922, to Valentine and Caroline (Justen) Schwind, he being the fourth generation of the Schwind family who had immigrated to Perrysburg from Germany in 1848. Barney was a devout Catholic and member of St. Rose Church which his family had helped to build (the Schwind family is commemorated in a stained glass window in the church). He attended St. Rose School from kindergarten through eighth grade and graduated Perrysburg High School in 1940. He was an ambitious young man and had many different jobs while growing up in Perrysburg including exercising polo ponies at the Carranor Club and working at Henry Uthoff’s cigar factory on Sixth Street in Perrysburg, where he made hand rolled cigars. In 1942, he joined the U.S. Navy and served during World War II as an Aviation Radioman 3rd Class. He was stationed in Hoboken, New Jersey where, on a blind date, he met his future wife and love of his life, Leonilda Angeli, who lived in the Bronx, NYC. Lee was a first generation Italian- American born to immigrants from Tuscany, Italy. It was “love at first laugh” and thus began their love affair which blessed them with 67 years of marriage. After their wedding in New York City on March 17, 1946, Lee left her job as head jewelry buyer at Macy’s department store in NYC and joined Barney to make a life in Perrysburg where they raised four children. After Barney’s discharge from the Navy, he established Schwind Radio and Television Repair and operated out of his shop on Superior Street in Rossford for over 35 years. During that time, his service area covered Perrysburg and Rossford where he did house calls and became known and loved by many people who met him through his work and knew him as “the guy who used to fix our TV.” His children have fond memories of working with their Dad in his shop on Saturdays, visiting him for lunch and watching Looney Tunes on multiple TV’s while eating chili dogs and drinking Fanta orange sodas from Holefkas. After his retirement from the TV repair business, Barney worked for Fifth Third Bank servicing ATM machines for another 5 years after which he fully retired and enjoyed traveling with Lee and visiting Longboat Key, Florida, every winter and spring where they loved to swim in the gulf and walk on the beach and enjoy a cocktail at sunset. Barney was active with the Valley Brook dance club for many years where he and Lee formed friendships that lasted for a lifetime. He remained active all of his life–he snow skied well into his 70s, continued to play tennis well into his 80s, and most recently could be seen riding his 3-wheeled bike treating all the dogs on his route with biscuits. He was a naturally gifted musician who loved to sing, play a little clarinet and accompany himself on the ukulele which he learned to play in his later years. For many years he could be seen stationed at Foodtown in Perrysburg during the Christmas season, ringing the bell for donations to the Salvation Army. Having known so many people in the area from his TV repair days, he used this to his advantage and was known to address many by name as they entered the store, thus ensuring lots of donations dropped into the red kettle. Barney was a kind, honest, gentle man. He was gifted with a wonderful sense of humor which, along with his antics, always made people smile. He was a dapper man who enjoyed dressing up and looking good, which he did! His wife remembers “Everyone liked Barney. Some of us loved him.” Known as “Papa”, he was blessed with three grandchildren whom he adored and was very proud of. Sara and Matt grew up in Perrysburg and he never missed one activity they were involved in from basketball to school plays. His granddaughter Pearl grew up in western Washington State and she traveled with her family to Ohio and Florida for long visits with Papa and Nona at least twice a year while they made many visits to her home where they have many happy memories. He was a natural storyteller and would regale his children and grandchildren and anyone else who would listen with recollections of his life growing up in Perrysburg, where there was never a dull moment. He leaves behind his wife, Lee; son, Stephen (Dr. Robin Gardner) of Eatonville, Washington; daughters, Janet (Dave) Dobie of Perrysburg and Susan Schwind of Perrysburg; grandchildren, Sara (Jacob) Bauer of Phoenix, Arizona, Matthew (Chambers) Dobie of Charleston, South Carolina, Pearl Rose Gardner Schwind of Portland, Oregon; sister, Marge Kennedy of Seattle, Washington; sister-in-law, Elinore Schwind of Toledo, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Bernard Jr.; brothers, Justine (Maxine) Schwind, Fred (Margaret Jean and Elsie) Schwind, William (Rose and Eleanor) Schwind and sister, Caroline (Chester) Krall. We miss you and love you Papa and will hold you forever in our hearts! Visitation at Witzler- Shank Funeral Home in Perrysburg on Thursday, October 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. A memorial mass at St. Rose Church in Perrysburg on Friday, October 18, at 11:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon and Celebration of Barney’s life in the church basement where his family will welcome your sharing of your memories of Barney. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.