Les Swindler (1943-2020)

SWINDLER, O’DONNELL

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 6/3/2020 at 10:27:44

Les was born on May 9, 1943, in Schyler County Missouri, at his farm home to his parents Leland and Minnie Swindler. His parents later moved to Bloomfield Iowa where he grew up on a farm and attended a One-Room schoolhouse through eighth grade and went on to graduate from Bloomfield High School in 1961. As an only child, he tried to use his time wisely helping with chores and was very used to hard work and long hours.
During his spare time, he liked to tinker with clocks and eventually vehicles, taking them apart and putting them back together again. Les never cared much for sitting around idly and taught himself how to work on farm machinery and to care for the crops. He thought one should use his/her time wisely and selflessly, and invested his time in a variety of ways to help his neighbors. He was self-motivated and self-directed for the most part, as he was nearly twenty miles from town and often miles from his friends’ farms.
Shortly after graduation in 1961, he moved to Cedar Rapids where he met and then married Karen O’Donnell on June 6, 1964. Since he had been an only child and his parents were older than most at their child’s marrying age, he felt he had much to learn in the way of being a husband and a father to four daughters by thirty years of age.
Les worked his way up the ladder at Prairie Creek Generating Station starting sweeping floors and ending a 33-year career for Iowa Electric in upper management at Prairie Creek. He rotated shifts over his years there sometimes doubling back the same day and was proud that he never missed Sunday Mass. He was actively engaged in a broad range of responsibilities while serving on The Parish Council; The Finance Committee, The Shamrock Festival Committee; Building and Grounds Committee while a member of St Patrick Catholic Church; as well as The Catholic Worker House Board of Directors, and in reserve law enforcement with the Linn County Sheriff Department. His service to church and community spanned over 50 years of his lifetime.
He always proved to be a rock, a loving and responsible head of the family, and wise sage and master of euphemisms. He bore up under trials and misfortunes because he became a committed person of faith, true to his devoted family and to the God from whom all good things come. He led quietly, with conviction and heart and was a man of remarkable character. He was the epitome of humility and quiet reserve. The one thing that was a constant with him remained his whole life----He felt a passion for our loving God as the potter who made a family of over forty strong from one small lump of clay----Les Swindler. God had made Him an earthen vessel and had bathed him in humility. And shown him the way to serve God and family in that order. He was a prophet and steward who spoke loudest most often, without words! Les passed away May 31, 2020.
Les was preceded in death by his parents Leland and Minnie Swindler, and his father-in-law Mell O’Donnell.
Les is survived by his loving wife Karen; their four daughters; Cheri (Ed) Philipp; Rene Schrader; Shelley (Dan) Helms; Kim (Dan) Carney; 16 grandchildren: Chelsea (Brian) Schultz; Matthew (Bianca) Finn; Abram Philipp; Annie (CJ) Manthe; Jackson Meyer; Andrew Schrader; AJ Schrader (Desarae Richter); Ashley (Mike) Zimmerman; Brandon Helms; Blake Helms; Ben Helms; Hannah Helms; Jenna; Katie; Nick and Nolan Carney; and eight great-grandchildren: Clare, Lucy and Teddy Schultz; Julia Finn; Justice Pickup; Kyler Zimmerman; Faith and Grace Schrader.
Les also adopted his in-laws as his own family: Dan O’Donnell; Angie (Tim) Casey; Pat and (Kathleen) O’Donnell; Mell (Lori) O’Donnell; Tom (Cheryl) O’Donnell; Tim O’Donnell; Mike (Shelly) O’Donnell and Coleen (Tom) Stevenson. He also had many nieces and nephews.
Les would like to remember his special spiritual leaders and friends Rev. David O’Connor and Rev. Martin Laughlin and thank them for the continual spiritual support, prayers, goodness and guidance. We wish also to thank Hospice of Mercy, in particular: Dr. Wilbur; Chaplain Bill; Nurse Krista and Social Worker Amanda. Their personal attention to Les was deliberately thoughtful, attentive and inspiring. In addition, the family wishes to thank all those loving people who have kept Les and our family in prayer, as well as offered support and friendship with food and other signs of affection. We keep all of you in our prayers of thanksgiving!
The visitation will be held at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, on Friday, June 5th from 3-6 p.m., followed by a vigil service at 6 p.m. A limited number of people will be allowed in the funeral home at one time. Please plan to wait your turn outside and be respectful of social distancing guidelines. The family will have a private funeral mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Marion, with the burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Les' casket was designed and crafted by his grandson, Jackson Meyer and his father, Tony Meyer. The quilt that lines the inside is a quilt that Les' mother made for Les and his wife many years ago. Items of importance were placed inside the casket by family members.
The family asks that memorials be directed to either the Les Swindler family, Hospice of Mercy, or St Joseph Catholic Church in Marion.