Emma Switz, 75, of Ontario passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her loved ones, on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016.
Emma was born Feb. 22, 1941, to Ray and Kathleen (Budde) Collins of Ontario. Emma attended school in Ontario and graduated from high school in 1960. After graduation, she moved to Janesville to work for a short time. She decided the “big city life” was a not for her.
She met Lloyd Switz at a dance in the Ontario Community Hall. They were soon married and lived on a farm in Kinney Valley, rural Wilton, and Ontario. This is where they raised their three children. She and Lloyd farmed for 31 years, and then moved into Ontario. She always loved helping people and began a job with the Bethel Home, where she worked for 10 years while still farming. This job was followed by 10 years working for the Village of Ontario, and then eight years with the Unit on Aging as the Senior Dining Center Manager and home-delivery meal hauler in Ontario.
Emma loved Ontario and everyone in it. She could always be found around town, doing something for someone, from making coffee at the Fastrip to weeding gardens for people who could not do it, to raking leaves, getting mail, making people laugh and smile with her great sense of humor and just being a ray of light brightening someone’s day. Saying that “Emma loved helping people” is an understatement. Emma was a pillar of strength, physically, emotionally and spiritually, for those who were lucky enough to know her.
Emma is survived by her husband of 54 years, Lloyd; three children, Laurie (Jesse) Johnson of Ogdensburg, Wis., Dawn Wendell of Eau Claire and Buck (Sharon) Switz of Kendall; five grandchildren, Adam (Brittany) Belling, Jared (Jessie) Belling, Kathleen Wendell, Kelly Switz and Brett Switz; one great-grandchild, Aliceana; her sister, Shirley (Carl) Dogs of Mauston; her brother, Dan (Sandra) Collins of Janesville; her sister-in-law, Shirley Collins of Janesville; Lloyd’s brothers and sisters, Dean (Geneva) Switz of Campbellsport, Wis., Shirley (Curtis) Hagen of Sparta, Diane (Larry) Clark of Sparta, and Duane (Bonnie) Switz of Coon Valley; along with many nieces, nephews, friends and her family of Ontario.
She was preceded by her parents, Ray and Kathleen (Budde) Collins; her brother, Robert Collins; and her sister, Sandra Johnson.
Funeral services will be at 12 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at Grace Community Church in Ontario. Pastor Bruce Milleman will officiate. Burial will be in the Hilltop Rest Cemetery. Family and friends are invited for visitation Thursday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. until noon at the church. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Ontario is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
