Rev. David Schweingruber

     Rev. David R. Schweingruber, 82, 335 E. 35th St., Erie, died Wed., June 1, 2011, at St. Vincent Health Center.  He was born March 25, 1929, in Harmony, PA, son of the late Russell and Hazel Burkett Schweingruber.  A 1947 graduate of Zelienople High School, Zelienople, PA, he attended Muskingum College, New Concord, OH; and graduated from Thiel College, Greenville, PA in 1952.  In 1955 he graduated from The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia earning a Masters in Divinity.
     He served for seven years at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Green Twp., PA, a mission congregation, where he was the founding pastor.  He then served for twenty-nine years as Associate Pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Erie, where he was Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry, a ministry to both the youth of the parish and the youth of the neighborhood and community.  Following his retirement from St. John's, he was elected Pastor Emeritus of the congregation.  He was a member of the Lutheran Pastors' Association of Erie and also served on the boards of the Village at Luther Square in Erie and Bethesda Children's Home in Meadville.
     In addition to his father and birth mother, he was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Turner Schweingruber; a brother, Frank Schweingruber; and an infant sister, Corrine Schweingruber.
     Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Marie Schweingruber; daughter, Cathy M. Schweingruber, DVM of Delmont, PA; two sons, Michael D. Schweingruber and wife Sandi and Stephen P. Schweingruber, all of Erie; three sisters, Patricia Platt and husband Thomas of West Chester, PA, Marie Grant and husband Thomas of Zelienople, PA and Sally Trump and husband Jack of Wormelsdorf, PA; two brothers, Donald Schweingruber and wife Nancy of Bluffton, OH and Jerry Schweingruber and wife Judy of Lebanon, PA; sisters-in-law, Charlynn Schweingruber of Chicago, IL and Martha Grassell of Ransom Canyon, TX; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
     Friends may call Friday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Scott Funeral Home, 2104 Myrtle St.  A service will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church, 2216 Peach St., Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  The Rev. Dr. Ralph Jones, Bishop of the NW PA Synod, ELCA, the Rev. Roy P. Washill and the Rev. Richard K. Schultz will co-officiating.  Private interment in Erie Cemetery.
     Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church Youth Fund, 2216 Peach St., Erie, PA 16502, or to a charity of the donor's choice.