Fr. Robert A. Schwane, C.M.

The Reverend Robert Schwane, C.M. died at home on March 12, ending a long and courageous struggle with prostate cancer. He was a Vincentian priest, a member of the Congregation of the Mission, Midwest Province. He was ordained a priest on June 7, 1953. He is survived by his sister, Virginia Anne Schwane Wallace and her husband, Joseph C. Wallace of Belton, TX; and his sister, Sr. Karen Schwane, Order of Saint Ursula, of Eveanston IL. He is survived by nieces Mary Catherine Harris of Dallas, TX; Sharon Elizabeth Brewer of Round Rock, TX; Suzanne Michelle Stadler of Belton, TX; and nephews James Christopher Wallace of Ft. Worth, TX and Robert Joseph Wallace of Belton, TX. He is also survived by numerous grand nieces and grand nephews, and great grand nieces and nephews. Father Schwane was preceded in death by his father, James Henry Schwane, his mother, Catherine Kraetz Schwane (who professed to the Benedictine 0rder after her husband's death), and his brother, Theodore James Schwane. Father Schwane came to Denver from St. Louis where he taught science in Cardinal Glennon College. He received his Ph.D. in chemistry at the Catholic University of America in 1958. He taught chemistry at DePaul University in Chicago from 1958-1969. At the end of that tenure he was chairman of the department. From 1969-1980, Father was a missionary in Chile and was the Vincentian Provincial there. Father Bob served the Church in Colorado in several capacities since 1987. He was on the formation team at DeAndreis house, which was the Vincentian seminary program at St. Thomas Seminary. He also was a member of the formation team of the entire Seminary and served in various administrative positions. From 1995-2000, he was the associate pastor of the Holy Ghost Church/St. Elizabeth mission. He will be very fondly remembered for his warm and loving service to the Colorado Vincentian Volunteers, the Vincentian Center for Spirituality and Work, and for his work as volunteer chaplain at Childrens' Hospital, where he often ministered in Spanish to sick children and their parents. He was a frequent celebrant of the Eucharist for various groups and parishes in the Archdiocese of Denver, most recently at Catholic Worker, Good Shepherd Church and Most Precious Blood Catholic Church. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, March 17 at 10:00 AM at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, 2200 S. Harrison St., Denver. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the Colorado Vincentian Volunteers, P.O. Box 6011, Denver, CO 80206 or the Center for Spirituality at Work, P.O. Box 102168, Denver, CO 80250.