August 4, 1945 – July 7, 2025
Gene William Schwade, 79, of Mason City passed away peacefully on Monday July 7, 2025 at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City following a sudden illness.
Gene and his identical twin brother, Gerald “Jerry”, were born August 4, 1945, to Eleanor (Baack) and John Schwade. The pair joined older sister Betty and eventually younger brother, Donald “Don”.
Gene and Gerald went to school in Nora Springs and Plymouth. They both obtained their GED when they were 50 years old after receiving a scholarship from NIACC.
Gene and Gerald served in the Army from June 1966 until June 1968 and were stationed in Germany. Both were discharged from the Army as E5s (Buck Sergeants). Once they returned from the service, they worked as mechanics at North Iowa Tire and the Volkswagen dealership.
On October 25, 1969, Gene married Lois Jeanne Moon at First United Methodist Church in Mason City. The couple would be blessed with twins of their own, Justin and Jessica, in 1975.
Eventually Carl Wollums asked Gene and Jerry to come work at Wollums Implement which was later Brakke Implement. They would work there together for 27 years. Following their employment at Brakke Implement, Gene and Jerry worked an additional 10 years with Ruan Transport until its closing in 2010. During Gene’s years of employment, he also helped his brothers and parents with their farming operation.
In 2010, Gene and Jerry opened a shop in Nora Springs where they worked on tractor repair. They worked there together until the shop closed in 2018 after Jerry became ill. Gene continued to work on farmers’ tractors up until his illness.
Gene is survived and remembered by his son, Justin Schwade and partner Frank Heimes of Munich, Germany; daughter, Jessica Van Vark and husband Brad; along with grandsons William and Jarrett Van Vark all of Pella. Gene is also survived by his sister, Betty Sheriff of Des Moines; sister-in-law, Kathy Schwade of Nora Springs; sister-in-law, Sherry Wallis of Farmington, AR; brother-in-law, Chuck Moon of Osage; many nieces, nephews, as well as extended family, special friend Juanita Pierce, and many friends.
Gene is preceded in death by his wife, Lois Schwade; his parents, John and Eleanor Schwade; his brothers Gerald and Don Schwade; parents-in-law, Charles and Margaret (Dunbar) Moon; sister-in-law Debra (Moon) Severson; brother-in law, Michael Moon; brother-in-law, Bob Sheriff; maternal grandparents, William and Elizabeth (Stromer) Baack; paternal grandparents Willie and Ella (Bohnsack) Schwade; and several aunts and uncles.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
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