Frederick "Fritz" Swischer

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Frederick "Fritz" Swischer, 71, of Kansas City, Mo., passed away Monday, Nov. 25, 2013, at Pinnacle Ridge Nursing and Rehab Center. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 2, at the Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, Olathe Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Kenneth J. LaBudde Special Collections at the Miller Nichols Library, UMKC, and/or the Vernon County Cancer Relief Fund

Fritz was born April 6, 1942, in Wichita, Kan., to Harold and Doris Swischer. As a young child, Fritz showed an affinity for music. Beginning on violin and piano, then in 1954 he began teaching himself clarinet and by 1963, played with the KC Philharmonic. Fritz earned his master's in music theory in 1966, through the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

In the mid-1980s, Fritz gave us a window into his imagination by putting brush to canvas and became a successful artist. His art is currently in collections across the United States, Europe, and in Mainland China. In more recent years, Fritz was cited and formally acknowledged for sharing his unpublished dissertation on Kansas City Jazz with Chuck Haddix, author of "Kansas City Jazz: from Ragtime to Bebop -- A History," co-authored by Frank Driggs. He was also credited for music analysis in the newly released book by Chuck Haddix titled Bird, the Life and Music of Charlie Parker. His contributions to music and art will continue to inspire for years to come.

He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Doris Swischer.

He is survived by brothers, Nicholas Swischer and his wife, Beverly, of Nevada, Mo., and Anthony Swischer, of Olathe Kan.; nieces, Tammy Farris and husband, Troy, of Chicago, Kelly Bennett and husband, Curtis, of Phoenix, Jamie Carey and husband, Tony, of Olathe, Kan.; nephew, Corey Swischer and wife, Stephanie, of Nevada, Mo.; great-nieces and great-nephews; and by his beloved cat, Chloe.

To leave a special message for the family, visit www.PenwellGabelOlathe.com.