Henry P.L. Schwartz, 90, of Falls City, Nebraska, passed away on January 6, 2026 in Falls City. He was born November 7, 1935, in Omaha to Henry and Mildred (Faller) Schwartz.
He married Marcia Hinton on May 31, 1959, at Christ Lutheran Church in Falls City.
He spent his elementary years in the Seattle area where his family lived. They moved to Falls City when he was a teenager and he graduated from Falls City High School in 1954. He attended Peru College for one year and played varsity football.
His uncle Merly Faller operated “Merly’s Tune Up” for many years, and while working there, Hank began his long career as an automotive mechanic. He joined the Hiawatha National Guard in 1958 and served proudly for seven years of weekly drills, after six months of boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood.
After boot camp, he was hired as a mechanic at Armbruster Motor Co. and was a dedicated employee there for 47 years, retiring in 2005.
Hank loved sports and was a founder of the Falls City Tiger Booster Club, where he was an enthusiastic creator and promoter of all their activities, urging fans to wear orange clothing to games, this before wearing school colors was all the rage. Among his many ways of support, he handed out apples and watermelon slices to team members. Always there to cheer on the Tigers, he seldom missed a game, home or away. He and his brother Ron coached a Junior Midget baseball team for many years. It was a joy for Hank to work with these young boys.
Always a “wheel man,” he built a go-kart and raced it, souped up cars and raced them. He could man-handle a motorcycle, willing it up Rocky Mountains and leaping gorges. He was all gusto and enthusiasm, strength and muscle. He started a motorcycle parts and service in the basement and garage, and worked many weekends fulfilling that dream.
And all the while, he was active in his church, throwing himself into offices and committees, and faithful service. He rarely ever missed a Sunday in church, even in deference to sports and motorcycling.
Best of all for his wife and two sons, Hank was a devoted family man. Always there for them, at the boys’ games, wrestling with them on the living room floor, fixing their cars, modeling manhood for them, our ever-loving, dependable rock.
Hank was preceded in death by his brother Ron, his mother Mildred, his son Reed, and sister, Helene Lawrence.
He is survived by his wife, Marcia, his son Lance and his wife Mary, his daughter-in-law, Debbie and granddaughter Lucy, all of Lincoln. He was also cherished by many other family members, and so many friends!
His funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 10:30 AM at Christ Lutheran Church with Pastor Ken Humphrey officiating. Interment will be in Steele Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Monday from 7-8:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home.