Legislator Details
Image Description:
Photo captured from funeral home obit 6/10/2026
Dr. John (Joe) J. H. Schwarz
Number of sessions served 8
Gender: Male
Age at election: 49
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 11/15/1937
City: Chicago, IL
County: Cook County, IL
Country: US
Death
Date: 5/27/2026
City: Battle Creek, MI
County: Calhoun County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial: interred
Burial
Date: 6/6/2026
City: Battle Creek, MI
County: Calhoun County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Memorial Park Cemetery
Marital Information:
married Anne Louise Ennis, 1/16/1971 (deceased February 1990); daughter: Brennan Louise; married and divorced a second wife
Number of Children: 1
Background
Religion: Catholic
Military Service: United States Navy
Occupation: physician, surgeon
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
attended Fremont Elementary School; graduated Battle Creek Central High School, 1955; BA in History from University Michigan, 1959; MD, Wayne State University, 1964
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Dr. Frank William and Helen Veronica (Brennan) Schwartz. His family moved to Battle Creek in 1935. He did his medical residency in otolaryngology at Harvard; interned at Los Angeles County Hospital before enlisting in the US Navy. He served for 5 years in SE Asia first with the U.S. Navy in Vietnam as a battalion surgeon for the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment; and as an assistant naval attaché in Indonesia. He briefly served in the CIA, locating prisoners of war, before continuing his education in 1970. He began his residency at Harvard in 1973. He practiced in Battle Creek, MI, 1974—; mayor City of Battle Creek, 1985-87. Trustee Olivet College, 1991—, Wayland Academy, 1992-96; trustee, treasurer Am. Legacy Foundation. Lieutenant US Navy, 1965-67. Member American Medical Association, American College of Surgeons, Am. Society for Head and Neck Surgery. Michigan State Medical Society; American Medical Assoc.; Board of Trustees, Olivet College, 1990 and Wayland Academy, 1992-1996; Board of Trustees, Library of Michigan. Member of the Theta Theta Chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Served 1 term as a US Representative for Michigan, 2005/06. He taught at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, which beginning in the fall of 2007
Notable Facts:
Championed higher education and healthcare while in the MI Senate..
Assistant Naval Attache, US Embassy, Djakarta, 1966-67.
1999 Michigan Manual gives birthplace as Chicago, some other sources say Battle Creek, MI.
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Appropriations , Appropriations Subcommittee on Capital Outlay, Appropriations Subcommittee on Community Health, Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, Health Policy , Legislative Council , Joint Michigan Capital Committee
Postions Held: President Pro Tempore
City of Residence: Battle Creek
County of Residence Calhoun
District Description: Counties of Calhoun and Eaton; and Delhi township in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
Maritial Status: Widow/Widower
Notes: Chair: Michigan Capitol Committee. Subcommittee Chair: General Government; Higher Education. Vice-Chair: Appropriations. Member: Senate Fiscal Agency Governing Board; Legislative Retirement Board of Trustees.
Committees Served On: Appropriations , Appropriations Subcommittee on Capital Outlay, Appropriations Subcommittee on Community Health, Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, Health Policy , Michigan Capitol Committee
Postions Held: President Pro Tempore
City of Residence: Battle Creek
County of Residence Calhoun
District Description: Counties of Calhoun and Eaton; and Delhi township in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: Term Limited
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status: Widow/Widower
Notes: Chair of the Committees on General Government; Higher Education; and The Michigan Capitol Committee; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Appropriations.
Alternate on the Legislative Council; served on the Legislative Retirement Board of Trustees; and member of the Senate Fiscal Agency Governing Board
Committees Served On: Appropriations , Appropriations Subcommittee on Capital Outlay, Appropriations Subcommittee on Community Health, Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, Appropriations Subcommittee on K-12, School Aid and Education, Health Policy and Senior Citizens
Postions Held: President Pro Tempore
City of Residence: Battle Creek
County of Residence Calhoun
District Description: Counties of Calhoun and Eaton; and Delhi township in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
Maritial Status: Widow/Widower
Notes: He also served as a member of the Legislative Council, Legislative Retirement Board of Trustees, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and the Michigan Capitol Committee
Committees Served On: Appropriations , Appropriations Subcommittee on Capital Outlay, Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Health, Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid (K-12) & Dept of Education, Appropriations Subcommittee on Social Services, Appropriations Subcommittee on Health Policy and Senior Citizens, Legislative Retirement, Michigan Capitol Committee
Postions Held: President Pro Tempore
City of Residence: Battle Creek
County of Residence Calhoun
District Description: Counties of Calhoun and Eaton; and Delhi township in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
Notes: Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education; and Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Health; Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health Policy and Senior Citizens. Alternate Chair for Legislative Retirement
Served on the Legislative Council
Committees Served On: Appropriations , Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, Appropriations Subcommittee on Regulatory, Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid (K-12) & Dept of Education, Education , Health Policy , Legislative Council , Michigan Capitol Committee, Appropriations Subcommittee on Joint Capital Outlay
City of Residence: Battle Creek
County of Residence Calhoun
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
Notes: Subcommittee Chair: Higher Education. Chair: Michigan Capitol Committee. Vice-Chair: Health Policy; Senate Select Committee on Export & Trade.
Committees Served On: Appropriations , Education Reform, Health Policy and Senior Citizens, Technology and Energy
Postions Held: President Pro Tempore
City of Residence: Battle Creek
County of Residence Calhoun
District Description: Counties of Calhoun, Eaton and Delhi Township in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate 2/3/1994
Committees Served On: Commerce and Technology, Education and Mental Health, Health Policy
City of Residence: Battle Creek
County of Residence Calhoun
District Description: Counties of Calhoun, Eaton and Delhi Township in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Education and Mental Health
Committees Served On: Education and Mental Health, Commerce and Technology, Health Policy
City of Residence: Battle Creek
County of Residence Calhoun
District Description: Counties of Calhoun, Eaton and Delhi Township in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: 87-88: Chair of the Committee on Education and Mental Health; Vice Chair of the Committee on Commerce & Technology.
Bibliography:
WWAM55th; Manual 1987 p.132; Manaul 1999 p.169; 1988 Michigan Legislative Handbook p.18; Gongwer 5/27/2026; Obit on Farley Estes Dowdle [funeral home] site, 6/10/2026, includes photo
