Pioneer Press - August 5, 1999
Obituary
Mrs.
Eunice Butler Schwemm died July 18 at Westminster Place, a Presbyterian Life Care Community in Evanston, where she had been a resident since 1980. She was 96 years old.
She was the widow of
Earl Meyer Schwemm, her husband of 68 years, who died in 1996. Five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren survive by her three sons, John B. Schwemm of Downer Grove, Richard E. Schwemm of New London N.H., and Robert G. Schwemm of Lexington, Ky., and Mrs. Schwemm.
Mrs. Schwemm was born Eunice Adelle Butler May 11, 1903 in Chicago.She was the daughter of George O. and Carrie Eisle Butler. Her family moved to Barrington in 1911 which was her home for 70 years. She is a graduate of
Barrington High School, where she was valedictorian of the Class of 1921. She attended
Northern Illinois State Teacher College in DeKalb (now Northern Illinois University) and received her two-year teaching certificate. She taught secondary school English in the Oak Park public school until her marriage to Mr. Schwemm February 1, 1928.
In addition to raising her three sons, who like their parents, graduated from Barrington High School, Mrs. Schwemm was active in community service. She was a member of the League of Women Voters, and an early volunteer in the Head Start Program. She and Mr. Schwemm were longtime members of the Barrington Methodist Church. There she served as a Sunday School teacher and superintendent of the school's primary department. She also served as chairman of the Methodist Women's Society.
In accordance with Mrs. Schwemm's wishes, no funeral service was planned.
Barrington Courier Review - 1978
The Earl Schwemms: Fifty years together
They were high school sweethearts. And is was 50 years ago yesterday that Earl Schwemm and Eunice Butler were married.
Earl Schwemm was born here in Barrington. Eunice Schwemm came here to live when she was 9 years old. Both are graduates of Barrington High School, he in 1920 she a year later. Earl went on to the University of Illinois, graduating in 1924 and Eunice graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1925.
They were married on February 1, 1928 in the tea room in the building which now houses Barrington Realty.
They never left Barrington. They made their home here and Earl worked in Chicago for 30 years as agency manager for the Great Lfie Insurance Co. He was active in the community, serving on the high school board of education for eight years and as its president for three. For seven years, until 1975, he was a trustee for the Village of Barrington and last year he marked 50 years of membership in the Barrington Lions Club and the local Masonic Lodge.
Eunice has been a long-time member of the Barrington Woman's Club
and the League of women Voters. She also has been active in the Women's
Society of Barrington, United Methodist Church and the Volunteer Bureau.
The Schwemm's raised three sons; John, who lives in Downer's Grove; Richard who lives in Wilton, Conn; and Robert, a residen of Lexington, Ky. All five of the Schwemms' grandchildren are girls.
"I have the best wife, the best kids, the best of everything. I've been a lucky man," Earl Schwemm said.
