Hilda O. Schwedler

Hilda O. Schwedler, age 100, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at The Cottages in West Bend.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Heinz, of 54 years. Survived by her daughter, Bonnie (the late Bill Hesse); sons, James (Sandy) and John; grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Hilda was born to Alfred and Olga Oesterreich on September 6, 1920 in Thalheim, Germany. Alfred served in the German army in WWI, 1914 - 1918 and was captured by the Americans. He was so impressed by the kind way he was treated, that he told Olga he wanted to go to America. He arrived in the US on December 9, 1922, found his other relatives in Milwaukee and worked at the Phoenix Knitting Mills. In 1925, he finally sent tickets to Hilda and Olga to join him in Milwaukee, and they got on the last ocean liner leaving Hamburg, before the start of WWII . Oma graduated from Fifth Street Grade School, North Division High School, went to Sunday School at Divine Charity. Got a job as a comptometer (a fancy adding machine) operator at Standard Unit Parts. Took piano lessons at The Milwaukee Conservatory of Music and bought her own piano. Olga and Alfred were members of the German Club, Ertzgeberg Vehren and met another couple, Albin and Elsa Schwedler, who had a son, Heinz. They had a cottage on Lake Sinissippi and invited Olga, Alfred and Hilda to the cottage. Heinz just bought a boat and asked Hilda to go with him to pick it up....that ended in marriage April 18, 1942. From his job as a machinist at The Kendall Corporation, he worked at American Can Company. In the 1940's - 1950's most wives were "domestic engineers", no job outside of being a homemaker. Our mom and dad lived in a duplex with Albin and Elsa upstairs. Bonnie was born July 7, 1945. Oma was involved in the Philipp School PTA as president, sang in the PTA chorus, did lots of sewing and crafting for the annual bake sale and was Girl Scout Leader for Troop 834. Jim was born December 16, 1949 and John May 25, 1953. Every summer was spent with grandparents and mom on Lake Sinissippi, and Dad came out on weekends. As we grew up, mom took a part time job, retail clerk at Singer's and then fulltime in Kohl's Payroll Dept. She finally got her driver's license, and a 1962 T-bird. From Milwaukee, they moved to Menomonee Falls, bought the cottage next to their parents and eventually bought the house in Cedar Lake Hills, selling the cottage.

Mom bowled, golfed, played cards, traveled with dad, did plenty babysitting, started an angel collection and plenty cooking...German Christmas stollen for us all. She was our role model, ingrained family values in us, believed in God, did lots of laughing and most important.... always showed her love for us.

We could not imagine a better mom. For all she is.... we celebrate her life!!

To the West Bend Cedar Community, The Cottages and Hospice Staff, thank you for all your conversations and laughter with our mom, belting out “You are My Sunshine” daily, keeping her healthy and happy with your kindness and compassion. You gave her the “Bestest Care our mom could ever get!!”

Due to the pandemic, Private family Services will be held on Sunday, February 14th at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials to your favorite charity appreciated.