Kathryn Anne (Bjerke) Schwarz

In Loving Memory of Kathryn Anne Schwarz

April 7, 1938 – January 21, 2026

Kathryn “Kay” Anne (Bjerke) Schwarz, age 87, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2026, at Shepherd of Grace Senior Community in Becker, Minnesota.

Born in Fergus Falls, MN in 1938, Kay’s life was defined by deep Minnesota roots and enduring love and friendships. In 1962, she married the love of her life, Eugene "Gene" Schwarz. Together, with their three children, they built a vibrant life as longtime residents of Plymouth and Clear Lake, MN creating a legacy of family and friendship that spanned nearly seven decades.

For many years, Kathryn served as a dedicated Administrative Assistant at Wayzata High School. As the steady, welcoming heart of the school’s Math, Foreign Language, and Social Studies Departments, she was a fixture in the lives of generations of students and staff, known by all for her sharp wit, positive, upbeat manner, and dedication to her work. 

However, Kathryn’s spirit truly flourished at her lakeside weekend and summer home in Clear Lake. A gracious hostess and loyal friend, she loved nothing more than cooking for friends and family and spending long afternoons by the water surrounded by laughter.

She was also formidable bridge player and a lifelong lover of dancing. Whether at a roadside bar or a formal dance room, Kathryn never missed an opportunity to dance, and she moved with a grace and energy that remained youthful well into her 80s.

Kathryn is survived by her three sons, William, Michael, and Andrew; her five cherished grandchildren, Michaela, Hannah, Erin, Jamie, and Abigail; and her great-grandson Aiden. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gene, her parents Albert and Grace Bjerke, and by her sister Marilyn..

Services:
A Celebration of Kathryn’s life will be held at 4PM on Wednesday June 3rd, 2026,  at Dare’s Funeral Home, 805 Main St, Elk River, Minnesota. The funeral home will be open for visitors at 3PM. Those who wish to join the family for refreshments afterwards at a rented cabin on Briggs Lake will be welcome. A small group will take a pontoon boat out to scatter Kay’s ashes in the lake, just as Gene’s remains were scattered when he passed.

In honor of her legacy, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Wayzata Education Fund.

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