Gerhard Friedrich Schwarz entered his heavenly home on April 29, 2022. He was born on December 11, 1922 to Rudolf and Auguste Schwarz in East Prussia, Germany. Gerhard’s goal was to make it to 100 years, but the Lord called him home at age 99.
Sponsored by the Lutheran Church, Gerhard and his wife, Kathe, immigrated to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1956 where he started his career as a Master Carpenter at RCA. He fashioned record player/stereo units that were popular back in the day as well as many, many other furniture pieces. His gifts of precision and quality mindedness were unmatched in everything he touched. Although they couldn’t speak English very well when they came over, Kathe always said they spoke with “hands and feet” so they could be understood. During this time, Gerhard learned English from his colleagues, while Kathe went to night classes to learn English so they could become naturalized citizens. When he was laid off in the mid 60’s from RCA, Gerhard, Kathe and his two very small children moved to California because the housing market was booming at the time and he could get work building houses. When he was recalled back to RCA, the family came back to live in Indianapolis permanently and Gerhard eventually retired from RCA/GE.
A member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Gerhard was an avid Saturday night churchgoer until his hearing and eyesight started giving him problems.
When he wasn’t in his woodworking shop at home, gardening was Gerhard’s passion. He grew almost everything from seed and he loved it when something he planted “grew big”, whether it be tomatoes, sunflowers, potatoes, carrots or strawberries, blackberries or even gooseberries! He felt that good soil was one of the keys to a healthy garden. He would have his children rake neighbors leaves in the fall so he could add them to his compost. Gerhard would always give tours of his garden to visitors because he had such a large variety of fruits and vegetables. He made sure visitors left with samples of whatever the garden had to offer. Gerhard would also bring his produce to friends, to the tellers at his bank, and other institutions he frequented. This love of gardening and giving was passed down to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
For those reading this, please plant a vegetable or a flower in honor of Gerhard. Springtime was his favorite season and he was insistent that it was important to live as close to nature as possible.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Heinz, his wife, Kathe, in 2000 and his son, Ralph, in 2019. Left to cherish wonderful lasting memories are his daughter Elke Lorenzen (Brad); Grandsons Grant (Lauren) Russel, Drake (Elizabeth) Russel; Step granddaughters Nicole Lorenzen, Ashleigh (Steven) Alexander; Great Grandchildren Owen, Landon and Henry Russel, Lori, Dylan and Corbin Alexander and cousins in Germany. Services will be private.
Very deep and heartfelt thanks to Golden Gardens Adult Day Care and Angela Allen at Angelic Senior Care LLC for their excellent care of Gerhard in his later years as well as Kindred Hospice for their caring support in his final days.
