Rev. Elmer C. Schwarz

Reverend Elmer Conrad Schwarz, 88 died on April 26, 2016 in Oklahoma City. Father Schwarz was born on August 8, 1927 in Okarche, OK to Conrad William and Susan Durisek Schwarz. Father Schwarz attended Holy Trinity Catholic School, Okarche, before entering Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Mount Saint Mary's Seminary of the West, Cincinnati, Ohio for Theology and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1953 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Oklahoma City. In 1958 he completed graduate studies in Canon Law at Catholic University, Washington, D.C. where he received his licentiate in Canon Law (J.C.L.). He also completed graduate studies at both Oklahoma City University and the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond. Father Schwarz devoted 54 years in active ministry to the people of Oklahoma, serving as Assistant Pastor, Corpus Christi, Oklahoma City and Pastor of Saint William, Skiatook, and mission; Assumption Church, Muskogee and missions; Blessed Sacrament, Lawton and mission; Saint John Nepomuk, Yukon; and Holy Name of Jesus, Chickasha, where he retired in 2007. Father served as a Judge for the Archdiocesan Tribunal from 1986 – 2012. He also served as a Chaplain of the Catholic Lawyers Society. Father Schwarz is preceded in death by his parents, brother Reverend Bernard Schwarz, sisters, Catherine Alig and Margaret Gales, and nephew Michael Alig. He is survived by nephews Nicholas (Nick) Gales and wife Sue; John Alig and wife Judy, Missouri; Robert Alig and wife Suzan, Okarche; Stephen Alig and wife Sherry, Okarche; and nieces Judy Gales Rauh; Susan Endres, Okarche; Mary Weggmann and husband Michael, Wisconsin; Helen Leonhardt and husband Rick, Texas. Father Schwarz is also survived by many grandnephews and grandnieces as well as his many friends and former parishioners. A Vigil service will be held at 4:00 pm on Sunday afternoon, May 1, 2016 at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home Chapel, 14624 North May, Oklahoma City. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Francis de Sales Chapel, Catholic Pastoral Center, 7501 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City, on Monday, May 2, 2016 at 10:00 am with interment immediately following at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery, 7801 N.W. Expressway, Oklahoma City. Memorial gifts may be made to Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City, 1232 N. Classen Blvd., OKC 73106.