Monty C. Schlawin

Monty C. Schlawin, 78, of Garner, passed away Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Marys Campus in Rochester.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, November 3, 2025, at Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St., Garner with Rev. Scott Kozisek officiating. Burial will be at Concord Township Cemetery with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, November 2nd, at the funeral chapel.

Memorials may be directed Wounded Warriors or the National Park System.

Monty Craig Schlawin, the son of Glenn and Kathleen (Felland) Schlawin, was born March 11, 1947, in Forest City. He grew up in Hayfield and attended Hayfield Consolidated School until the 8th grade. The family moved to Garner during his freshman year in high school, and he graduated from Garner-Hayfield High School in 1965. Monty served his country in the U.S. Army during Vietnam as a sharpshooter and achieved the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Purple Heart (2nd Award) with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with Two Bronze Service Stars, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation (2nd Award), Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation (2nd Award), and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Garner. On July 8, 1972, he married Darcia Kooiman at the Britt Christian Reformed Church. They lived in Forest City before moving to Garner in 1976, where they raised their daughter, Shannon. Monty was employed at Winnebago Industries in Forest City as an appliance installer and later an electrician until his retirement in 2006. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, gardening and feeding birds in the winter.

He was a member of the Garner American Legion.

Monty is survived by his wife, Darcia, of Garner; daughter, Shannon Thill (Pam Marlowe) of Ankeny; granddaughter, Shelby Thill of Ankeny; brother, Greg Schlawin of Garner; sister, Sherry Bird of Clear Lake; a brother-in-law, Ron Kooiman of Forest City; a sister-in-law, Audrey Kooiman of Forest City; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters-in-law, Julie Schlawin and Carla Stevenson; and nephew Matthew Bird.