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Congressional Daily Record
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June 24, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay special tribute to former Congressman John Joseph Henry “Joe” Schwarz, M.D., my friend, veteran, physician, and dedicated public servant, who passed away on May 27, 2026.
was defined early on by excellence in leadership, athletics, and service. At Battle Creek Central High School, he was elected as the class of 1955 president and earned varsity letters in football, baseball, and swimming. He went on to attend the University of Michigan, where he earned a degree in history in 1959. While at U of M, he participated in football, men's glee club, and was a lifelong member of the Theta Theta Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He earned his medical degree in 1964 from Wayne State University.
the U.S. Navy, where he was the battalion surgeon for the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment in Vietnam and Southeast Asia and later as assistant naval attache to Indonesia. He also worked with the Central Intelligence Agency to help locate prisoners of war. In 1974, he returned home to Battle Creek with his wife Anne and daughter Brennan and entered private medical practice.
later mayor of Battle Creek, before being elected to serve 16 years in the Michigan Senate. Congressman Schwarz faithfully served the people of Michigan's former 7th Congressional District from 2005 to 2007. During his term in the House of Representatives, he earned a reputation as a principled decision maker, a tireless advocate for his constituents, and a respected colleague on both sides of the aisle.
life and his counsel was sought by leaders across the State of Michigan. He served as a trustee of the University of Olivet, a member of the university bank board and the Kellogg Community College Foundation Board, and on the Michigan Legislative Retirement Board, the Purple Rose Theatre Company Board, and the Brass Band of Battle Creek Board. He was a past president of the Calhoun County Medical Society and on the board of the Michigan State Medical Society.
loss. While we grieve his passing, we also celebrate a life well lived and a legacy of service that will endure for generations.
Congressman John J.H. “Joe” Schwarz, M.D. for his decades of service to the Battle Creek community, the State of Michigan, and our Nation.