Robert D. Schwertfager Swede, age 84, of Fredonia passed away peacefully and quietly in the arms of his loving wife and daughter at Brooks Memorial Hospital after a brief illness early Saturday evening, May 20, 2017.
Bob was born on August 20, 1932 in Dunkirk to the late Walter and Pauline (Greene) Schwertfager. He attended Fredonia Schools. Bob started working for H. F. Salhoff Lumber Company on Water Street in Fredonia as a truck driver delivering construction materials. His father, Walter, worked there also. His father decided to start his own carpentry business with his sons and formed Walter Schwertfager & Sons. Along with George J. Leone, who bought properties in the village of Fredonia, they developed new streets and built new homes. They developed Leon Place, Georges Place, Pine Drive and Reese Parkway, along with the apartment complexes on East Main St., the corner of Eagle and Orchard Streets, and others. After a time, Bob started his own business, Bobs Carpentry, doing remodeling and repairs, from which he retired. Because of the love and pride of his carpentry, his legacy will live on in the homes he worked on or built, and in the people who live there. The Schwertfagers were all known to be THE BEST carpenters around, THE BEST finish carpenters and for making the most beautiful custombuilt cabinets, and also for doing rough work like concrete, siding, roofing, etc. If you got a Schwertfager to do the job, you were lucky, because you got the best.
Bob joined the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He served from August 1952 to August of 1956. He was on a destroyer, the U.S.S. Cassin Young, DD793, and served in the Mediterranean and Pacific. He was honorably discharged in August of 1956. He was a recipient of the National Defense Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the UN Service Medal.
He married the love of his life, Patricia (Calato), on July 13, 1957, and the couple would have been celebrating their 60th Anniversary this July 13. They lived in the same house for 57 years.
Bob was a member of St. Joseph Church, the Dunkirk Moose Club and a former member of the Fredonia American Legion Post No. 59.
Bob is survived by his wife, Patricia Calato Schwertfager and a daughter, Patty Pattiann Schwertfager, both of Fredonia; a sister, Sue Korzenieweski; several nieces, nephews, great- and great-great nieces and great- and great-great-nephews and cousins; along with many friends, especially lifelong friend, Bill Sayers, who will all deeply miss him, as he was loved by all who knew him. Besides his parents, Bob was predeceased by his brothers, Richard, Raymond, Donald and Fred Schwertfager; and two sisters, Betty Brochetti and Beverly Rux.
Calls may be made on Tuesday, May 23 from 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM at the Larson-Timko Funeral Home, 20 Central Avenue, Fredonia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church, 145 E. Main Street, Fredonia on Wednesday, May 24 at 10:00 AM (please assemble at the church). Full Military Honors will be accorded by the Dunkirk Joint Veterans Council at the church after the Mass. Interment will be in the Webster Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in Bobs memory may be made to St. Joseph Church Building Fund, 145 E. Main Street, Fredonia, NY 14063.
Online condolences may be made at www.larsontimkofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by David J. Dengler.
By the Observer
