Remembering the life of Arnold Schweer (2024)

Arnold Schweer was born on a farm near Covington, OK, on October 27, 1918, and passed peacefully from this life on Friday evening, May 31, 2024, in Enid, OK, at the age of 105 years, 7 months, and 4 days.
Arnold was the second child born to Fredrick and Lena (Meier) Schweer. Growing up, he and his brother Herold spent many hours working on the farm, while their dad worked in the oilfield; riding horses; and playing baseball. As they got older, they played on the town team together. Arnold also played some basketball, and since the ball was brought back to the center circle for a jump ball after each made basket, his height was a big asset. Arnold had a lifelong love for baseball and loved attending games at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid in later years.
Arnold attended Lone Star School northeast of Covington and graduated from Covington High School in 1936. After graduation, he joined the family farm operation, farming in the Covington area until his retirement in 1981. He also began selling insurance in the mid-1970's and continued this with the help of his daughter Judy until 2013.
Arnold served during WWII with the 807th Army Aviation Engineers, and early in the war he was stationed in the Aleutian Islands as the Japanese fleet was approaching. Since there were very few rifles and less ammunition, he put his blacksmith skills to work and crafted a knife from scrap parts so he could defend himself. He was later deployed to Okinawa until the end of the war.
Arnold married Ione Crews in 1959, and they were married for 39 years before she passed away in 1998. They had 3 children: Judith Marg, Fred Schweer and Paul Schweer.
Arnold was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church of Covington for most of his life, serving as a Sunday School teacher, elder, and chairman of the Building Committee when the current church was built. He moved his membership to Zion Lutheran, Fairmont, in later years "because he could understand the preacher". As a young man, Arnold was active in the local and state Walther League, serving on the state board when the current Camp Lutherhoma property was acquired and as state president when Oklahoma hosted the international convention in 1957. He also served on the school board for Covington-Douglas Schools, and was active in the VFW for many years.
As passionate as Arnold was about his family, farming, and sports, he was most passionate about his love for Jesus. He spent time every day reading his Bible and in prayer. He lived out his faith through the love, kindness, care and concern he showed to his family and everyone he came in contact with.
Arnold was preceded in death by his wife Ione; parents Fred and Lena Schweer; brother Herold Schweer; and sisters Lorene Whiteneck, Darlene Braley, Irene Gragert and Esther Mittlestedt. He was also preceded in death by in-laws Walter Wyssman, Perry Whiteneck, Jack Braley, Merton Gragert, Johnnie Mittlestedt, Robert and Reba Crews, James and Laverne Crews, Jack Stovall and Lee and Joan (Crews) Thorpe; as well as nephews Phillip Mittlestedt, Roger Mittlestedt, Danny Schweer, Larry Schweer, Jim Crews, Steve Stovall; and niece Lana (Stovall) Tarnoff.
Arnold is survived by his daughter Judith Marg, son Fred Schweer and wife Cathy, and son Paul Schweer and wife Cheryl. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.
A private graveside service and burial were held at Covington Community Cemetery on June 5, 2024.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, June 29th, at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 510 Fairmont Rd, Fairmont OK. This will be followed by a lunch and time of fellowship in the Zion Lutheran Church Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be made to St. Johns Cemetery Permanent Fund, c/o St. Johns Lutheran Church, 205 E. Jackson St., Covington, OK 73730, or to the giver's home church or local community charitable organization.

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Published on June 24, 2024