Leo J. Schwartz

Leo Joseph Schwartz, 85, of Washington, Kansas passed away on July 5, 2024 on the family farm north of Washington where he and his wife Sharon have lived for 65 years. 

Visitation was held Tuesday, July 9, from 1 until 7 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Washington. The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m.

A funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 10 at the Washington Christian Church in Washington. Rev. Eli Sweany officiated. Music for the service included “Buy Dirt,” “How Great Thou Art” and “Crackling Rose.”

Pallbearers were Larry Schwartz, Tom Schwartz, Brock Schwartz, Cody Schwartz, Drake MacFarlane, Brett Vogt, Kent Stewart, Gregg Stewart, Greg Knedlik, Dana Cecrle, Gary Edgar and Randy Alldredge.

Burial was in the Washington City Cemetery.

Leo was born in rural Hanover on June 17,1939 to Tom and Mary (Wilson) Schwartz. Leo attended Limestone School near the family home in rural Hanover. He graduated from Hanover High School in 1957. After high school, he moved to Salina where he worked for his uncle in construction for a year and then returned to the family farm and farmed alongside his father. 

In 1958, Leo brought his high school sweetheart, Sharon Jane Mueller, back from college in California, meeting her at the bus station in Salina with an engagement ring. Leo and Sharon were united in marriage August 25th, 1959. At this time Leo and Sharon purchased the farm they still live on today north of Washington, Kansas. To this union, 2 children were born: Douglas (Natalie) Schwartz of Washington and Cheri (Mike) Jacques of Manchester, TN and grandchildren Brock, Cody, Jenna Schwartz, Drake and Morgan MacFarlane, Brett & Taylor Vogt and great-grandchildren Ava, Isaac, Hudson Schwartz, Cooper & Layton Schwartz, Makai Schwartz, Blakely Vogt, Brett Loader, and Brandon Loader. Leo is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by siblings, Larry Schwartz of Abilene, KS, Mary Ann Schwartz, Gilbert, AZ, Rose Michaels, Lincoln, NE, Tom Schwartz, Abilene, KS, and Donna Hageman, Manhattan, KS.

Leo pursued a life as an avid farmer receiving his FFA State Farmer and Star State Farmer Awards at the age of 18 and followed those recognitions three years later with his FFA American Farmer Award. He passed his love and mastery of farming on to his son and grandsons who also earned Star Farmer recognition. Over the years, Leo also served in a number of leadership roles including President of the Kansas Pork Producers and President of the USD 222 Board of Education where he received a Meritorious Service award for his work in education between 1977 and 1989. 

In 1959 Leo and Sharon merged their beef cattle and dairy cows and quickly shifted to raising pigs. During their marriage they ran a 200-sow farrow to finish sow operation. The farm revolved around the hog operation and row crop farming. When he wasn’t in the field, his days were spent feeding, sorting loading and working with hogs. Leo hired many highschoolers to help on the farm. Even his own brother, Tom, had the opportunity to work for him. If you came to Schwartz Family Farms, you could expect Leo to teach you the perfection needed to master the art of raising animals and crops successfully. Those who worked for Leo Schwartz all have a story they can share. All would agree that you always knew where you stood with Leo.

Leo loved to socialize and always had time for conversation and dancing. He loved an evening out for a good meal and at least one or three stiff drinks and the company of his dear Jane. Dancing with Sharon brought them both great joy. For forty years, Leo was a diehard K-State fan, and they spent many a weekend and night cheering on the Wildcat football and basketball teams. Leo was loyal and dedicated to supporting his wife Sharon’s political responsibilities as she traveled throughout the country.

Leo's greatest love was "Jane" Sharon Schwartz followed closely by farming. He lived and died for the dirt and what he could produce with God's help and his own hands. Leo rarely rested-he was constantly on the move fixing things, tending to the livestock, and growing crops.

Leo took great pride in the beauty of his land and care taking of his homestead. He delighted in bringing birds closer and closer to his home, unless it was barn swallows. Those he chased off with a passion. As tough as Leo was on the outside, he was often tender and sweet with his wife "Jane”. He always remembered her birthday and their anniversary with bouquets of beautiful red roses. When he could no longer help run a combine or drive a tractor, he cared lovingly for all the growing things around his home. He had a passion for flowers, especially hollyhocks and roses. He made sure to cultivate hollyhocks around nearly every building on the farm. 

Leo is at peace and his family takes great comfort knowing he is pain free and enjoying a bountiful heavenly harvest. 

A memorial fund is established to the Washington County Hospital or Alzheimer's Association. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward funeral home Washington.