Doris Cecilia (Halfmann) Zwach

Mass of Christian Burial for Doris (Halfmann) Zwach, 93, of Milroy, will be at 10:30 a.m. on
Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 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 Zwach 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 three 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