Katharina Schwager, 100

In loving remembrance of Katharina Schwager

Katharina Bohm was born Oct. 4, 1923, in Apatin, Yugoslavia, the fifth child of seven children. Her father was a fisherman and wood cutter. They were poor but always had food to eat and were very happy.

When Katharina was 11 years old, she quit school and went to work as domestic help for a family in her town. She left home with her Sunday dress on a hanger and the clothes she had on. She did not even tell her mother she was leaving.

When she was 18, she met the love of her life, Jakob Schwager, and they were married Feb. 19, 1942. They spent 65 wonderful years together.

World War II forced them to leave their home and relocate to Germany, where their first child, Albert, was born in 1945. Sadly, he passed away in 1951. Their daughter, Eva, was born in 1952. In December 1955, they immigrated to the United States, making their home in Los Angeles, Calif., where their third child, Jakob Jr., was born in 1960.

Katharina was a very talented seamstress, sewing many clothes for her children. She was an excellent cook and baker. Every Christmas she baked hundreds of cookies of all sorts of varieties and gave them away to all her friends and neighbors. It was said that the whole street they lived on smelled like cookies at Christmastime. She had a green thumb and had beautiful plants and gardens all around her home. 

Katharina loved fishing all her life. We would go fishing any chance we got. In 2007, Katharina moved to Sandpoint to be closer to her daughter, and was thrilled to be able to go on many fishing trips while living here.

On Oct. 4, 2023, we celebrated her 100th birthday with friends and family. What a blessing to have had her in our lives for so long. 

She passed away peacefully Nov. 20, 2023, surrounded by loving friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Father Rob Cook officiating. Interment will take place in Lakeview Cemetery.

She leaves her daughter, Eva; her son, Jakob; and grandson, Jeff; and her adopted Idaho family, Doug, Meredith, and Odin Clark.

Family and friends are invited to sign Katharina’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.