Carl Herbert Alexander Schwarzenberg

In keeping with his final wishes, Carl Schwarzenberg died peacefully at his beloved ranch home in Etna, California accompanied by his loving wife, Fai. In his 92 years, Carl's love and compassion positively impacted the lives of many individuals whose paths he crossed. As an advocate for the peace movement, the environment, prison visitation and family support, he served as a spokesperson for justice wherever he encountered a listening ear. Born September 6, 1922 in San Francisco, California to Herbert and Elsa Schwarzenberg, Carl attended school in San Francisco and Mill Valley and graduated from Tamalpais High School. In 1942, after briefly attending San Francisco State University, Carl joined the U.S. Navy, where he served as a pharmacist's mate during World War II from 1942 to 1945. While stationed in Western Australia, he met and married his dear wife, Faioa Irene Porter on May 18, 1945. Fai subsequently immigrated to the U.S. as a war bride, where they resettled in Mill Valley and Carl reentered San Francisco State University. Upon graduation from San Francisco State University in 1949, Carl went on to complete Ashbury Seminary School in Kentucky and was ordained as a United Methodist minister in June 1951. In addition to his loving wive, Carl is survived by his son, John Schwarzenberg (and wife, Atik), daughters, Lynne Birimisa (and partner, Charley), Jan Wolff (and husband, Gerry) and Nancy Pfeiffer (and husband, Ted) as well as seven grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents and one son, Timothy Schwarzenberg. Before taking a year-long sabbatical with the family to Australia in 1962, Carl served congregations in several California United Methodist churches, including Montague, Gazelle, Westwood and Greenville between 1951 and 1962. Upon return to the U.S., Carl was assigned the United Methodist Church in Mt. Shasta in 1963 during a time of social unrest due to the war in Vietnam and the civil rights movement. These issues for which Carl became a key spokesperson at the time were personal values that guided him for the remainder of his life. In 1973, Carl was assigned to the United Methodist congregation in Susanville where he continued his advocacy for prisoners and their families until his retirement in 1986 to his beloved ranch on French Creek in Scott Valley. His lifelong interests that followed him into retirement included ham radio operation, hiking, backpacking, youth camps, United Methodist Shasta Camp, playing his French horn with the College of the Siskiyous orchestra and continued advocacy for social and environmental justice. In lieu of flowers, it was Carl's wish that donations be made to Sierra Club, Audubon Society, Wilderness Society, United Methodist Shasta Camp, the Fellowship of Reconciliation or your local church. A memorial service will be planned for a future date. For further information, contact Lynne Birimisa at (530) 926-1009.

Carl Herbert Alexander Schwarzenberg

September 6, 1922 - April 17, 2015