Phyllis Wagner Schwebke

Phyllis Wagner Schwebke entered eternal life on September 13, 2009. Phyllis was born November 26, 1920, on a farm near Menomonie, WI and lived there thru her college years at Stout Institute which she graduated from in 1942. After receiving her MS in 1958 from the University of Wisconsin she continued her career in Family Life, Adult Education and Clothing and Textiles. Phyllis started an adult education program at Monona Grove High School and taught high school before she moved to the Madison Area Technical College to teach clothing and textiles. She retired from the Wisconsin system in 1983 as the Dean of Home Economics. During her career Phyllis authored or co-authored three books, How to Tailor, How to Sew Leather, Suede & Fur and How to Sew the New Knits. Her numerous honors include, Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in Vocational Education, and the Arizona Leader Award from the Arizona AAUW, which she was very active in. She served on many committees and as state treasurer and state president. Because of her commitment to helping women succeed in education she was instrumental in organizing three different scholarship funds to assist female students in furthering their education. Phyllis is survived by her living husband of 66 years, Howard, and her two sons, John (Debbie) of Las Cruces, and Jim (Colleen) of Albuquerque, and two granddaughters, Kristin Dodson (Mike) of Waco, TX and Melanie Schwebke (Clint Walding) of Boston, MA. "Oma" will be greatly missed by them. She is also survived by a sister, Barbara Schwehr of Palo Alto, CA, and two nephews and their families. Phyllis took great joy in her family and in the lives of all of those around her. She loved nothing better than to learn about the family experiences of other people. She is preceded in death by David and Palma Wagner. A memorial service will be held Oct. 3, 2009, at 10:00am at the Village at Northrise, Morningside Activities Center. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Phyllis Schwebke Scholarship Fund through the Las Cruces Public School Foundation for students attending Dona Ana Community College in the CNA, LPN, and RN programs, POB 16214, 88004. PDF Printable Version