Shirley Ann (Reisig) Schwartz
Sep 7, 1929 - Oct 9, 2005
Sub by Jo Aguirre

She was born September 7, 1929 at Milwaukee, WI to Jake and Sarah (Bierig) Reisig and died October 9, 2005 at Okeene Municipal Hospital, Okeene after a lengthy illness with heart disease, arthritis, and emphysema.

At age four, she moved to Okeene with her family. After her mother died in 1933, she lived with her grandparents, John and Anna Bierig and aunts and uncles including Henry and Marie Greb until she was 14 years old. She lived with Otto and Laura Graalman until her graduation from Okeene High School in 1947. She attended Nurses Training at St. Anthony’s Hospital following high school.

She married Jack Swartz June 30, 1949 in Okeene.

As a young woman she worked in the medical clinic for Dr. Robert McLauchlin. She was a full time mother and homemaker until her youngest child went to school. She then went to work at the First National Bank for many years.

She was an active member of St. Anthony’s Church where she was a first and second grade religion teacher, an Eucharistic Minister who took communion to the sick, and an officer in the Altar Society for many years. She was one of the founders of and volunteered many hours in the Thrift Shop which operated in the old St. Mary’s Building. She was one of the original officers of the Okeene Alumni Association and helped with the annual reunion every year until very recently.

She volunteered at Schallmo Assisted Living and Summit Living Center leading exercise sessions. She was trained in adult literacy and taught reading as a volunteer. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She belonged to the Loose Change Investment Group. She enjoyed watching Okeene Whippet Basketball and was an OU Football fan.

Family was very important to Shirley. She helped organize family reunions for the Reisig family, the Nault family and the John Bierig family.

Surviving are her husband, Jack, of Okeene; eight children, Mary Jac Rauh and husband, Stan, Okeene; Paula Schwartz, Stillwater; Benny and wife, Cindy, Okeene; Patti Schwartz and husband, Frank LaPrade, Okeene; Kathy Wiederstein and husband, Rick, Missouri City, TX; Angela Laubach and husband, Eric, Oak Ridge, TN; Henri Blehm and husband, Brad, Okeene; and Tracee McPhearson and husband, Ricky, Weatherford.

Grandchildren Leanne Raugh Knight, Perkins; Barbara Rauh McEntire, Locust Grove; Sam Raugh, Okeene; Erica Rainwater, Oklahoma City; Andrea Rainwater Vitek, Tokyo, Japan; Anthony Rainwater, Stillwater; Amie Schwartz Hood, Canton; Amber Schwartz, Moore; Audre Schwartz, Okeene; Laura Reininger Yasar, San Diego, CA; Henry Reininger, Tulsa; Patrick Reininger, Jack Reininger, Stillwater; Aaron Wiederstein, Lubbock, TX; Alex Wiederstein, Missouri City, TX; Mitchell Laubach, David Laubach, Oak Ridge, TN; Katie Blehm, Thomas Blehm, Okeene; Karen McPhearson and Joseph McPhearson, Weatherford.

Great grandchildren are Michael and Lyndzi Knight, Nicole and Reilly Rauh, Hunter Staten Rainwater, Hailey, Hannah, and Hopelyn Hood, and Victoria Hinchey.

Sisters surviving her are Irene Nusz, Okeene; Alice Hendricks and her husband, Jay, Owasso; Helen Greb and her husband, Milton, Waukomis.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Victor Reisig; a granddaughter, Rosemary Rauh and a brother-in-law, Virgil Nusz.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Okeene School Playground Fund or St. Anthony’s Church Hall Fund or Venny Schwartz Liver Transplant Fund with State Guarantee Bank of Okeene acting as custodians of the fund.

(Paid Obit 10-11-1)