Robert Henry Schweitzberger, Jr.

Robert Henry ""Bob"" Schweitzberger Sr. was born April 28, 1923 on a farm outside of Lorenzo, Colorado in northeastern plains, near the Colorado-Nebraska-Wyoming borders. His father Robert Henry Schweitzberger Sr. and his mother, Nellie Murray, met each other while living on adjoining farms near Tipton, Iowa. Bob Sr. and Nellie Schweitzberger married and moved to Burns Wyoming in a covered wagon to begin tenant farming. After dry-land farming on the plains of northeastern Colorado, the Schweitzberger family moved to Peetz, Colorado, where Bob Sr. operated a service station and mechanical repair business, and his wife Nellie managed the business while raising food for the family with chickens, vegetable gardens, livestock and fruit trees. Their cellar was always well-stocked with home-canned foods. After graduation from Peetz high school Bob Jr. joined the Army and served in the South Pacific, stationed at Hawaii. He met the woman who would become his wife, Lenora Magdalene Messing (mother's maiden name Martha Glatter), when he was home on leave while Lenora was singing in the USO choir. Lenora Messing lived on a farm just across the border nearby to Sidney Nebraska. During World War II, Bob escaped death and made money playing poker with his Army buddies, sending his winnings home to Lenora. After his discharge, Bob and Lenora married, bought a travel trailer with their savings, and moved to the Indian Village travel court in Denver on South Lipan Street in the Athmar neighborhood. Bob entered night school for mechanical engineering specializing in refrigeration and electrical appliances. In 1949 the Schweitzberger family moved to the semi-rural Scenic View neighborhood at1821 West Harvard, where they bought a house on a half an acre of land. The house was made from a discarded railroad box car with a kitchen and bathroom added on. With the help of the neighbors, Lenora and Bob drilled their own water well, built a garage, workshop, rabbit hutch, chicken and turkey coops. Mr. Schweitzberger added on to the house with two more bed rooms and a utility room for laundry and the well pump. In 1957 Scenic View was declared an Urban Renewal Area, annexed into Englewood, and by 1959, zoned ""heavy industrial"" . A semi-rural paradise soon became junk yards, auto salvage, and warehouses. Unable to sell their home, in 1960 the Schweitzberger family moved to 1084 South Perry Street in Denver's Westwood. Neighborhood. Several years later, a junk yard bought the Harvard street house in Scenic View for $3, 000. Moving into the Westwood neighborhood was the start of the Schweitzberger's real estate business. The Perry street house had a basement apartment to rent out, paying the house payment. The next year the Schweitzberger family bought 1024 South Patton Court in Westwood, which also had a basement apartment to rent out. The Schweitzberger family lived upstairs on Patton Court and now had three rental units. Then they bought land and a small house in the 1000 block of South Osceola, where they built a brick triplex next to the existing house. Now they had 6 rental units. More purchases followed - a duplex on West Custer Place, three units on West Exposition, four units on South Julian, more units on South Patton Court. The managing of their real estate became the family business, enabling Bob Schweitzberger Jr. to retire at 51 years of age and enjoy his favorite pastimes - having fun with his family and friends, taking long road trips on his motorcycles, ""dirt-biking on the West Sixth Avenue motorcycle hills (now private property)"" , waterskiing, boating, camping, traveling with his RV club friends, fishing, dancing at the American Legion hall, playing pinochle, and seeing all of Colorado he loved so well--""God's Country"" he called it. Mr. Schweitzberger was a member of the Good Neighbor Sams, the Potluck Sam's, the Sociable Sams, The Colorado Country Music Sams, the Englewood Elks, the Mile High Skyliners, the American Legion; and several pinochle-playing groups. He often worshiped at the Old Country Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, All Saints Catholic Church with his young children, and other places where his friends could be found. He enjoyed music, especially drums, steel guitar, organ, western, country, and bluegrass. His favorite Hymns were ""I'll Fly Away"" and ""How Great Thou Art"". His wife Lenora Magdalene Messing preceded him in death on January 12, 1995. His youngest son Carl Dean Schweitzberger preceded him in death on November 8, 2005. He is survived by his Daughters, Jan Marie Belle and Diane (David) Hoffman; his Son Steve (Bonnie) Schweitzberger; his Daughter-in-law Pam Schweitzberger; Grandchildren Darrell Bauer, Renee Aline Evans, Shawn Thomas Evans, Rachel Grace Marie Hoffman, Paul Robert Hoffman, Sara Kay Schweitzberger, Britney Jai Schweitzberger, Amy Diane Schweitzberger, Emily Rose Schweitzberger; Daniel Norman Schweitzberger; Great-grandchildren Aline Marie (D.J) Laird, Stori Nicole Evans, Alexis Leigh Evans, and Joshua Thomas Evans. Mr. Schweitzberger is also survived by the dear friend of his later years, LaVina Redden. Visitation Thursday, 10:00-8:00 p.m., Funeral Mass Friday, 9:30 a.m., both at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado. Interment Fort Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to SouthWest Improvement Council, 1000 South Lowell Boulevard, Denver Colorado 80219. 303-934-2268. Please share your memories of Bob and condolences with his family by selecting the ""Sign Guestbook"" button below.