Mass of Christian Burial for Doris (Halfmann) Zwach, 93, of Milroy, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 7, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy. Visitation will be from 9:00 until 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Milroy.
Doris Cecilia (Halfmann) Zwach was born on December 7, 1930 in Jackson County, Minnesota to George and Grace (Thiner) Halfmann. She lived near Okabena and Brewster before moving to Tracy. She graduated from Tracy High School in 1948. She was inducted into the National Honor Society and participated in the Drum and Bugle Corp. She was the Miss Fireman candidate for Miss Tracy. Doris accepted the position of bookkeeper and began her career at Tri-County Co-op where she met her future husband, Robert Zwach. They married in 1951 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy and moved to the farm in Gales Township near Milroy. They joined St Michael’s Catholic Church where Doris served as president of the Parish Council and held officer positions on the Milroy Council of Catholic Women. For many years Doris grew flowers specifically for arrangement on St Michael’s altar. She was chairperson for her church Circle and served as President and Community Affairs chairperson on the Marshall Deanery CCW. She also taught CCD and served 8 years on the St Michael’s Finance Council. Doris was the first female lector and first female Lay Presider in the New Ulm Diocese.
In Redwood County and surrounding counties, she served as secretary of the National Farmers Organization writing a newsletter and speaking at various meetings. Doris was the first female to be elected to the Milroy Public School board and served for 12 years. She was a proud member of the Milroy American Legion Auxiliary serving as Chairperson, Secretary and Membership Chairperson. Later in life, Doris was honored by Tracy High School and was inducted into the Tracy Wall of Fame.
Doris was involved in Sewing Club, Extension, Doris Club, Milroy Senior Citizens, Milroy Centennial Committee and organized many bloodmobiles for the American Red Cross. She especially enjoyed her family, friends, exercising her right to vote, sewing, crocheting, Christmas, bowling, Milroy Yankee baseball and serving her community.
Doris died on Sunday, August 4, 2024 at Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall at the age of 93. She is survived by six children: Robert Zwach Jr. and wife Deb of Milroy, Lori Dolan and husband Pat of Milroy, Renee Zwach of Milroy, Peggy Schmoll and husband Greg of Otsego, Colleen Zwach and husband Jeff Seeman of Scottsdale, AZ and Tim Zwach and wife Suzann of Milroy. Also surviving are her 11 grandchildren: Mandy (Michael) Weaklend and Matthew Zwach, Jeff (Amy) Dolan and Brian Dolan, Danna Williams, Ryan (Michelle) Williams, Kirsten (Jeff) Wall, Katie (Nikunj Sharma) Schmoll, Jessica (Alex) Kessler, Ashley and Alec Zwach and 21 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, David (Roseann) Halfmann and two sisters-in-law Marcy Halfmann and Marlene Halfmann. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert and brothers, Bob, F. Herman and Harold.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Milroy American Legion and Auxiliary are preferred. PO Box 70, Milroy, MN 56263
Arrangements with Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association, Echo.