Jerome Schwartzenberger, 84, of Napoleon, died Friday, January 15 at the Napoleon Care Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 10:30 AM at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Napoleon. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 19th from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. Burial will be held at St. Philip Neri Cemetery, Napoleon with Military Rites provided by the Napoleon American Legion and the ND National Guard. A Livestream of Jerome's funeral service and prayer service will be available on the St. Philip Neri Catholic Church Facebook Page or St. Philip Neri Napoleon YouTube Page.

Jerome Schwartzenberger was born March 18, 1936 at Napoleon, son of Eugene and Veronica (Bitz) Schwartzenberger. He attended Napoleon grade school and graduated from Napoleon High School in 1954.

Jerome worked on a farm in Edgeley for his uncle, Constant and Katherine Bitz during summer months of middle school. He started in the printing business in October, 1951, while a sophomore in high school as a printer's devil at the Napoleon Homestead. Following graduation he became employed full time at the Napoleon Homestead.

Jerome married Christine Leier (daughter of Joe and Clara (Schmidt) Leier) of Kintyre on July 11, 1960 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, rural Kintyre. They had two children, son Terry (Mary), who has taken over the newspaper business, and daughter, Mary Lynne (Gary) Davidson, Bismarck. They also have seven grandchildren, Morgan (Kate), Jonah (Megan), Kali (Trent Fettig), Veronica, Jada, Aliyah and Xavier Schwartzenberger and four great grandchildren, JoJo Elizabeth and Decker Jerome Schwartzenberger, Xander James Fettig, Myles Kevin Schwartzenberger.

Except for a 6-month period when Jerome served on active duty for basic training in the North Dakota National Guard, Jerome has been at the Homestead. In November, 1964 he was named editor of the newspaper. He purchased an interest in the newspaper in 1965, and in 1974 he and his wife purchased the newspaper, making the first time in the newspaper's history that it has not been owned by someone in the Bryant family. He semi-retired in 1995 from the newspaper.

Jerome served 14 years in the ND National Guard. He went through the ND Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant in June, 1960. He served as commander of the Wishek National Guard Unit for six years and attained the rank of Captain.

He has served as Commander, Adjutant and Finance Officer of Barry-Hoof Post #72 American Legion; president of the Napoleon Lions Club (received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award in 2020) and Napoleon Civic Club; grand knight of the Napoleon Knights of Columbus, and served on the Lions District Governor cabinet. He was honored as a Napoleon-Kintyre-Burnstad Alumnus of the Year in 1989. He is a past president of the North Dakota Newspaper Association; also served six years on the board of Catholic Charities North Dakota, two years as chairman; on the South Central Dakota Regional Council. He served on the church cemetery board 47 years, Napoleon Country Club caretaker for many years, past president of Napoleon-Kintyre-Burnstad All School Alumni Assoc., Napoleon Bowling Assoc. Hall of Fame, served in leadership positions on the Napoleon Park Board, Napoleon Development Co., county director for Greater ND Assoc., assisted in organizing Napoleon Ambulance as well as being a driver, member of Selective Service Board; coached Napoleon Pee Wee baseball for 7 years; he was instrumental in forming Central Dakota Printing Plant at Wishek, along with six other publishers while serving as president and secretary during the 28 years the business was in operation.

His family was the Catholic Family of the Year in 1981. He and his wife took numerous trips; he placed second in the Seniors National Bowling Tournament in Reno, NV; sang in church choir and was a member of the Centennial 4 as well as Napoleon Centennial Hee Haw group; helped with Napoleon's 100th and 125th anniversaries; and worked at the Napoleon Country Club.

His hobbies included playing pinochle, amateur baseball, bowling in two leagues and golfing and has served as director and secretary of both local associations.

Jerome is survived by his wife of 60 years, Christine; two children, Terry (Mary), Napoleon, and Mary Lynne (Gary) Davidson, Bismarck; seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren; one brother, Robert (Kathy), Tecumseh, MI; six sisters, Barb Garvin, Joanne Shrove, Ione Good, Theresa Glatt, Mac Henke, Helen (Harlan) Brunner, all Bismarck; in-laws: John Leier, Pete (Carolyn) Glatt, Marty (Maggie) Leier, Pauline Slovarp, Andy (Lorraine) Piatz and Larry (Mary Ann) Leier.

He was preceded in death by parents and one son, James in infancy; one brother, Fr. Eugene Schwartzenberger; in-laws: Jon Good, Jim Garvin, Bud Shrove, John Glatt, Monica Leier, Julius and Marcella Leier, Leonard and Theresia Leier and Richard Slovarp.

Memorials may be sent to Napoleon Care Center, PO Box 90, Napoleon, ND 58561.

Share memories and sign online guest book at www.dahlstromfuneralservice.com .