ELLINGTON SWARTZ, Verola Eldora "Ole" (PIETSCH)

PIETSCH, ELLINGSON, SWARTZ, GRAF, GRELL, ARRHENIUS, DIERSON, MARTINSON, BAKKEN, GULSETH, FELD

Posted By: Sharon R. Becker (email)
Date: 11/23/2017 at 20:31:10

Obituary ~ Verola Eldora "Ole" (Pietsch) Ellingson Swartz
October 29, 1918 ~ October 29, 2002

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Sunday, November 03, 2002

MASON CITY - Verola "Ole" Ellingson Swartz, 84, of 125 26th St. S.W., died Tuesday (Oct. 29, 2002) at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with the Rev. James M. Magelssen officiating and the Rev. Kenneth Gehling assisting. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church.

Memorials may be given to the Verola Ellingson Swartz Memorial Fund.

Verola was born Oct. 29, 1918, in Lewisville, Minn., the daughter of John Pietsch and Martha (Graf) Swartz. She graduated from Lake Crystal High School in Lake Crystal, Minn.

She moved to St. James, Minn., and was employed at the 313 Café.

She married Clarence Ellingson on Jan. 14, 1945, in Waukegan, Ill. In March of 1945, they moved to Mason City after purchasing the Park Inn Hotel. She and Clarence worked many long hours and made major renovations to the establishment until its closing in the summer of 1973. Clarence died Feb. 8, 1974.

Verola held several bartending jobs, including Witke's in Clear Lake, The Country House, Ginnie's Tavern and Ship's Harbor in the Eadmar Hotel.

She married Kenneth Swartz on July 4, 1976. She and Kenny traveled extensively in their motor home and spent the winter months in southern Texas. Kenny died Oct. 21, 1984.

After Kenny's death, Verola found work cooking for the Catholic priests at St. Joseph's Rectory in Mason City. She cooked from January of 1985 to July of 1998. Since cooking had always been one of her passions, the job gave renewed purpose and meaning to her life in later years. It was failing health that forced her to give up the work she loved.

Verola loved to travel and had the opportunity to go with her daughter and son-in-law to many places, including Las Vegas, Branson, Mo., and Orlando, Fla., plus many camping trips. One year ago, the three of them along with her son and family from Sweden celebrated her birthday by spending a fun-filled week in Orlando.

Verola loved camping, the outdoors and this past summer spent much time at a campground near Spooner, Wis.

Verola was a life-long member of Trinity Lutheran Church, enjoyed cooking, trying different recipes and the outdoors, spending every chance she had to be outside. Her independence was very important to her as she was able to stay at home doing the thing she loved best, cooking, when she suddenly became ill.

Verola will be sadly missed by her two children and their spouses, Darryl and Katarina Ellingson, of Knivsta, Sweden, and Lori and Terry Grell of Mason City; brother, Wesley and Margaret Pietsch, of Brush Prairie, Wash.; grandchildren, Eric Ellingson and his mother, Judy, of Mason City, and Karin Ellingson, of Knivsta, Sweden; stepgrandchildren, Sara and Erik Arrhenius of Knivsta, Sweden; stepsons, Claire and Merle Ellingson and their families; sister-in-law, Elaine Dierson; many nieces and nephews, and kitty companion, Bobbi Sue.

Verola was preceded in death by her two husbands; parents; brothers-in-law, Ed, Nels, Oscar, Bert and Joel Ellingson; sisters-in-law, Cora Martinson, Rose Bakken, Wanda Gulseth and Bethine Feld.

Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, (641) 423-0924.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2017