Karl "Fred" Schwarz

Karl Frederick “Fred” Schwarz, 85, of Topeka, Kansas, formerly of Onaga, passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at his home in Topeka, Kansas.

Fred was born on December 22, 1940, in Onaga, Kansas, the son of Karl and Mary (Nightingale) Schwarz. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Paul Lutheran Church in Duluth. He attended Onaga schools and graduated from Onaga High School in 1958. Fred was active in band, football, basketball and track. He also was active in the American Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Fred married his high school sweetheart, Carole Teske on June 5, 1960, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Duluth. They shared their lives together for sixty-six years. Carole survives at their home.

Fred attended Wichita University on a football scholarship and was a member of the team that played in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas in 1962. He graduated from there in 1963. He continued his education at Wichita University and earned a master’s degree in education in 1966. For six years he taught high school and coached at Wichita, Bushton-Centre High and Newton.

In 1969, Fred went to work for Jayhawk National Life Insurance Company. Jayhawk later merged with Ozark National Life Insurance Company in Kansas City, Missouri. Fred worked from Onaga until 1981 when he and his family moved to Beatrice, Nebraska where he became the regional manager of Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. Fred and Carole enjoyed traveling during their years with Ozark, attending conventions and other incentives.

Fred retired from Ozark in 1993 and he and Carole moved to Arizona. They also maintained a home in Onaga, joining Larry and Wanda Honig purchasing and managing rental properties. They also purchased farmland which they maintained and rented out. During their retirement, they especially enjoyed cruising. They traveled to Germany many times with family and friends to visit Fred’s cousins and other relatives. After twenty-seven years of commuting between Arizona and Kansas, Fred and Carole moved back to Kansas in 2022, residing in Topeka.

Fred is also survived by his daughter, Carla (John) Shutak, Indian Trail, North Carolina; his seven grandchildren, Ashley (Michael) Mullock, Derrick Schwarz, Ehren Schwarz, Caleb Schwarz, Dawson Schwarz, Jocelyn Shutak, Ivan Shutak; his great-grandchildren, Jace, Ian, Declan Mullock; his siblings, Hal Schwarz, Wichita, Mary Alice Cole, Goleta, California, and Robert (Deb) Schwarz, Silver Lake; his siblings-in-law, Harlan (Jean) Teske and Gary (Linda) Teske, both of Topeka, Sherry Rengstorf, Rochester, Minnesota; as well as many special nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Fred is preceded in death by his parents, Karl and Mary Schwarz; his parents-in-law, Ben and Iverna Teske; his son Bret Schwarz; brother-in-law, Fred Rengstorf; sisters-in-law, Kay Carl and Joanne Teske; and a great-nephew, Oliver Nimmo.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Topeka. The family will greet friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at 2:30 pm in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Duluth, Kansas. Memorial contributions are suggested to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and those may be sent in care of Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home in Wamego.