Judean Russell Schwinger passed away peacefully November 26, 2021 at Edgewood Assisted Living where he had resided the past 3 years.

Funeral service will be 11:00 am, Monday, December 6, 2021 at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Watertown with Reverend Kent Stillson officiating and A.J. Sherrill as organist.

Visitation will be from 2-4 pm, Sunday, December 5, 2021 at Wight and Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.

Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.

Pallbearers will be his seven grandchildren.

Honorary pallbearers will be the staff at Edgewood. Judean’s family would like to thank the employees of Edgewood Assisted Living for the wonderful care they gave him.

Judean Russell was born at his Grandpa and Grandma Johnson’s farm in Dexter Township, Codington County, SD on August 6, 1931 to Russell and Nora M. (Johnson) Schwinger.

He attended the country Cutting School #59 through 8th grade, Florence High School in 9th grade, then finished high school at Augustana Academy in Canton, SD, graduating in 1949. After attending Augustana College for 2 years, he taught and coached in Hazel, SD for 5 years.

Judean married Bonnie Paulson on May 27, 1956 in Helgen Lutheran Church, rural Florence, SD.

While living in Aberdeen, SD, Judean attended Northern State Teacher’s College and taught 1 year at Simmons Junior High. Judean and Bonnie then moved to Watertown, SD where he taught general math and algebra for 34 years. He served as Junior High Assistant Principal for a few years, coached junior high football and basketball, worked as the Arrow basketball, track and wrestling scorekeeper and timer, and was a member of the Arrow football chain gang for over 30 years.

Judean was honored to receive the South Dakota Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award and 25 years of coaching award. He was a member of the SD Education Association, Watertown Education Association, SD Football Association, Quarterback Club, Golden Age Kiwanis Club, and National Trappers Association. The National Science Foundation provided scholarships for him to attend a summer school at Augustana, one at SDSU and at Seattle University

Judean was a man of faith. He was baptized and confirmed in the Bergen Lutheran Church. As a member of the Bergen Lutheran Church he served as the Luther League President and Sunday School Superintendent. He then joined the Grace Lutheran Church where he served on the Board of Education, the Board of Trustees and ushered for many years. In later years, Judean enjoyed attending Bible Study Luncheons at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, where he had currently been a member with his wife.

Judean spent his summers going to school or working. By going to summer school and attending night classes, he graduated in 1969 with a Masters Degree in Education from SDSU. His summer jobs included driving the Old Home Bakery bread routes, helping with city rec baseball, stadium groundskeeper for Watertown baseball teams, helping family and friends remodel or build their homes, building government grain bins, and sanding school desks.

Judean retired at age 60 and kept busy making beautiful gifts for his family and friends in his shop. He also spent a lot of time fishing, hunting, trapping, bowling, playing golf, gardening, painting and coin collecting. He played baseball and softball in his younger years. As an avid Arrow supporter, he rarely missed an event. Judean was a long time Minnesota Vikings and Twins fan, seldom missed a game on TV, and attended many. Judean loved music and could play piano by ear. Besides attending many concerts and shows, he sang in the barbershop chorus and sang tenor in a quartet. The quartet was privileged to perform at the SD State Fair. Judean and Bonnie enjoyed dancing, and the Community Concert Series.

Judean and Bonnie enjoyed family vacations and traveled extensively after retirement, visiting 49 states. They made many trips to Branson each fall. Family activities were a priority, attending many of the grandchildren’s events. Judean was proud of his family and especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Judean is survived by his wife, Bonnie; his children, Debra (David) Burdine of Sioux Falls, Danny (Theresa Kerksiek) Schwinger of Ft Smith, AR and Janell Renner of Watertown; seven grandchildren, Kristin (Kale) Harkema, Heidi (Ned) Sacipovic, Alisa (Nathan) Griffin, Staci (Brian) Rider, John (Erin) Schwinger, Adam (Ashley) Renner and Alex (Rachel) Renner; and 16 great-grandchildren with one on the way, Kiara and Kerigan Harkema, Cain and Talon Haggar, Medina, Maida and Musa Sacipovic, Lydia Nichols, Bryson, Brooklyn and Bella Rider, Olivia Schwinger, Evelinn, Nora, Ruth and Archer Renner, and baby Griffin due in June.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Stanley; step-mother, Hazel Schwinger; daughter-in-law, Mary Jo Schwinger; two great grandsons, Joseph and John Renner.

Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.