Obituaries

Ernest (Ernie) Joseph Schwartz passed away on February 22, 2024, in Regina, SK at the age of 84.

He will be remembered by his loving wife of 58 years, Hildegard, son Daryl (Shannon) Schwartz, daughter Denise (Paul) Hawman; grandchildren Courtney (Kale) and Logan Schwartz, Joelle (Christopher) and Brittany Hawman; his sisters Pauline Woiken and Josephine (Dwight) Ehman; sister-in-law Shirley Schwartz; numerous nieces and nephews.

Ernie was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Anne (Bolen) Schwartz; parents in-law Wilhelm and Christine (Beck) Schneider; siblings Ben (Gail) Schwartz, Emma (Fernand) Moulin, Albert Schwartz, Elmer (Cecile) Schwartz and brother-in-law Paul Woiken.

Ernie was born in Gravelbourg, SK to Joseph and Anne (Bolen) Schwartz on May 1, 1939. During his school years, he was an altar boy, had a Leader-Post newspaper delivery route and worked at the Regina Hardware store. After graduating from Balfour Collegiate, Ernie became an SGI Adjuster and in 1972, he began his entrepreneurial career that spanned the next 45 years. He was a parts dealer for transport trucks, a swimming pool salesman, digger, installer (Fun Pools by Schwartz), sewer and waterline contractor for the Village of White City, commercial building erector, farmer (Cupar, Markinch and White City), sanitation engineer (co-owner of Bubba’s Sanitary Engineers), apartment block owner and manager (The Victorian), residential lot developer in Town of White City (Kingsmere Park, Wheatland Estates, Garden of Eden), travel agency manager (Streamers) and owner, manager and salesperson for Schwartz Insurance Brokers in White City, Vibank, Odessa, Francis and Sedley for many years. His professional life was marked by a natural aptitude for connecting with people and commitment to service.

Ernie met Hildegard Schneider at a windup banquet at the Regina Curling Club. On October 16, 1965 Ernie married Hildegard. In 1967 and 1969, they welcomed son Daryl and daughter Denise. As a family, they went on vacation to Europe, Disneyland, Disney World, Hawaii and Mexico. Ernie managed Daryl’s hockey team and supported Denise’s figure skating, attending whatever tournaments and competitions he could. In 1992, they celebrated Daryl and Shannon’s (Schultz) wedding and in 1993, Denise and Paul’s (Hawman) wedding. In 1995, the excitement of grandchildren began with the birth of Courtney and one year after the other came Joelle, Logan and Brittany (three years to the day). As a family of ten, they went on a Cruise and travelled to Hawaii. Ernie wanted to show them the world.

In 1966, Ernie and Hildegard began their traveling adventures by returning to Hildegard’s birthplace, Austria, to visit her grandparents. 1974 was their first sun vacation, a sales incentive program through the swimming pool business, to Jamaica for 1 week. From then on they traveled annually until 2018. This included three more trips to Europe, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Bali, New Zealand (their favourite), frequently to the Hawaiian Islands, Venezuela, Margarita Island, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and many times to Mexico and the United States. They went on four cruises, with the most special being the Mississippi Paddle-wheeler from New Orleans north and ferry cruise from Prince Rupert to Haines, Alaska, then driving to and beyond the Arctic Circle from Fairbanks, east to the Top of the World Highway to the Yukon and back home.

Besides traveling, his hobbies and interests included the Balgonie Elks, White City Optimist Club, Austrian Hunting Club, Politics (Councillor for White City), fixing and selling total loss automobiles, curling, snowmobiling, fishing, sausage making, reading the Leader-Post, listening to the CKRM Flea Market, buying and selling in the stock market, cheering on the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Regina Rams, card games (especially cribbage) and spending time at the family cottage, where he enjoyed being out on the water with friends and family. He was a dreamer and the kind of person who loved to tinker and never one to sit idle. He was resourceful and tried to fix anything, build anything, and was always willing to lend a hand.

As we bid farewell to Ernie, we celebrate a life well-lived and a journey well-traveled. A Celebration of Life will be held at Broadway Terrace, 1150 Broadway Avenue, Regina, SK on Saturday, March 23, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, #301-2550 12th Avenue, Regina SK S4P 3X1. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff and residents of Broadway Terrace, the staff of the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre Adult Day Program and all family and friends who touched his life.