SCHWEMIN,

Reverend

Ralph Henry

Reverend Ralph Henry Schwemin, a retired priest in the Diocese of Spokane, died on October 31, 2009. Fr. Schwemin was born

in Ferdinand, Idaho on

November 21, 1913. He is

survived by his half-brother, Mr. Joseph Renggli, and half-sister, Mrs. Mary Van Allen, both of Clarkston, Washington. He attended the Pontifical College Josephinum from 1928 to 1941 for his priestly formation training. He was ordained in the spring of 1941 by Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States. His priestly assignments in the Diocese of Spokane began with the appointment as an assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Parish from 1941-1946. He served as pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Dayton and St. Mark's Parish in Waitsburg from 1946-1956. He then was appointed pastor of St. Mary of the Rosary Parish in Chewelah from 1956-1958. He was the founding pastor of the Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in northwest Spokane in 1958 and remained there until 1974. In 1974-1983, Fr. Schwemin was pastor of Mary Queen Parish in northeast Spokane. He retired on August 1, 1983. Fr. Schwemin was a linguist and enjoyed French, German, and Hebrew. In the early years of television, he hosted a TV program regularly on a weekly basis called: "The Pastor's Study." He and Fr. Wenning were very important in establishing the Diocesan Development Fund Annual Campaign in support of the apostolic works in the Diocese. He was interested in artwork, and especially he was noted for religious artwork he developed through a welding torch. His interest in sports was always strong, especially so in golf. The Vigil service for Fr. Schwemin will be held on Tuesday evening, November 3rd at St. Thomas More Parish at 7pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday morning, November 4th at 10am at St. Thomas More Parish, 505 W. St. Thomas More Way, Spokane. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Please visit his memorial and leave a condolence at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements entrusted to:

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