Christel Nassauer Schwartz passed away peacefully on February 13, 2024 at Hospice Alliance in Kenosha, WI surrounded by her god-daughter Jen.  Christel Nassauer was born in Herdorf, Germany on March 24, 1936, the oldest child of Anna (Hoelzemann) and Alfred Nassauer.  Growing up in Germany during the war years and post-war years was very difficult.  At the age of 17, she left her home and immigrated from Germany to Kenosha, WI.  She traveled 4300 miles alone by train and ship to live with her aunt and uncle, Alwine (Hoelzemann) and Albrecht Bernshausen.  She did not speak any English but worked at the First National Bank of Kenosha working with numbers in the bank records area.  Christel was promoted through the years and retired 42 years later as a bank officer, the Vice President of the First National Bank (now known as Chase Bank).

In 1967, Christel married Harry L. Schwartz Jr., they celebrated 52 years of marriage together.  They traveled extensively with friends, throughout Europe and the United States and on many ocean cruises.  Cooking was Christel’s passion.  She collected cooking books and magazines and attended many cooking classes through the years.  Christel excelled in gourmet meals.  Her Thanksgiving turkey was ‘perfection,’ and she delighted friends and family with her annual Christmas gift of her Greek Baklava.

Christel was preceded in death by her husband, Harry; her brother, Erich Nassauer in Germany and by a nephew, Joerg Nassauer in Spain.  She is succeeded by Barry and Julie Schwartz, Ryan and Tyler Schwartz, Megan, Sophia and Vincent Pecoraro, Ericka McCammon, Teik and Czarah Araya, Liam, Todd and Julie Schwartz, Amanda and Dimitri Gustave, Chloe and Olivia, Bailey and Chris Shaw, Madelyn Schwartz, Kristopher and Cindy, Kristian and Zakry.

Service Info

Funeral services honoring Christel’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church, 2001 80^th St, Kenosha.

Interment will follow in Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.

A visitation for Christel will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the service at the church.

Memorial gifts may be sent to Door County Land Trust, P.O. Box 65, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 www.doorcountylandtrust.org.