Esther Emma Vogt

Esther Emma Schwanz was born Oct. 27, 1916, in Alma City, Minn., to Herman and Anna (Klinger) Schwanz. Esther was baptized on Nov. 19, 1916. She moved with her parents to South Branch Township, Watonwan County, Minn., as a small child. Esther was confirmed on June 1, 1930, at St. John's Lutheran Church-South Branch. On Feb. 12, 1939, Esther was united in marriage to Emil Vogt at St. John's Lutheran Church-South Branch. Following their marriage, they moved to a farm near Northrop, Minn., where she remained until October 1993, when she moved to Fairmont. Esther worked for 10 years at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Truman, where she was a member of the auxiliary. In April 2009, Esther moved to Milestone Senior Living in Faribault, Minn. Esther was a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Northrop, where she was a member of Ladies Aid and the LWML. Esther died Saturday, May 21, 2011, at Milestone Senior Living in Faribault, Minn. Esther is survived by three daughters, Lois (Eldon) Lloyd of Detroit Lakes, Minn., Joyce Deir of St. Paul, Minn., Linda Needham of Faribault, Minn.; one son, Don (Carol) Vogt of Maple Grove, Minn.; 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Gertrude Mau of Fairmont, Minn., Ruth (Herman) Wentzel of Defiance, Ohio; three brothers, Gilbert (Lucille) Schwanz of Truman, Minn., Herman (Carol) Schwanz Jr. of Truman, Minn., George (Mary Jo) Schwanz of Brooklyn Park, Minn.; five sisters-in-law, Hilde Grev of Shakopee, Minn., Elfrieda Anderson of Hanska, Minn., Verona Vogt of Sauk Center, Minn., Barbara Vogt of Edina, Minn., and Doris Schwanz of St. James, Minn. Esther was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Emil; one brother, Martin; and five sisters, Evelyn Bonkoski, Loretta Anderson, Veda Schwanz, Dorothy Kettner and Marlene Schwanz. Memorial contributions may be given to the Faribault Area Hospice or to the St. James Lutheran School in Northrop, Minn.