ALBERT E. SWIM

SWIM, NEWBURY, FISHER, GUAVAIN

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 5/4/2002 at 21:53:53

From: "Nancee Seifert"
To:
Subject: DEATH & OBITUARY - ALBERT E. SWIM
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 11:28 PM

Decatur County Journal
Thursday, July l, l920

A.E. SWIM died very suddenly last Thursday afternoon about fifteen minutes after four o'clock at the family home on south Main Street in this city. MR. SWIM had been ill for some time. In April he was taken suddenly ill while attending Masonic Lodge and was taken to his home. He never recovered from that attack. He had been able to come up town a part of the time, but was unable to look after his business. During the past few weeks he had remained at home. Thursday afternoon with MRS. SWIM, he had been sitting out in the yard at their home and a few minutes after four he told her that he was going inside the house to do some work on his books and she told him that she would go in too and do some sewing that she had under way. They passed on into the house and MRS. SWIM went on to another room to get her sewing. She heard an unusual noise from the room where she left MR SWIM and she ran back and found that MR. SWIM had collapsed in a chair. His death followed in a few seconds. Heart trouble, from which he had been suffering, was the cause of his death. The funeral sermon was delivered by Rev. Jervis at the Methodist Church. The remains were then taken to the Leon Cemetery where burial followed with the beautiful Masonic ceremonies. The attendance at the funeral was very large. MR. SWIM had been a most active Masonic worker and he will be sadly missed. MR. SWIM was an upright and honorable citizen and one of Leon's capable hustling business men.

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ALBERT E. SWIM was born at Red Oak, Iowa, on August 20th, l872. He lived here as a boy until he was twelve years of age, then moved with his parents to Prescott, Iowa. Here he passed through the schools and finally attended and graduated from the business college in Creston. He was married to MISS EVA NEWBURY, of Fontanelle, Adair County, Iowa, on April 4th, l900. Their home was made happy with two children, JAMES CURTISS and HUGH ERNEST SWIM.

He brought his family to reside in Leon, Decatur County, during the year of l907. For a time he was employed by the Swift Company, when he decided to change and went into the poultry and egg business for himself. He heard the call of the infinite artificer speaking to his soul and responded with his life, being converted in the tabernacle meetings held in Leon four years ago, and joined membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

He joined the Masonic Lodge and was a charter member in Prescott, Iowa, and several years ago he demitted and placed his membership in the Leon Lodge of Free Masons. MR. SWIM will long be remembered in the fraternity and deeply missed.Having been one of its most assiduous workers, and valued for his ability in the committed work of the ritual. He was a real, earnest and true Mason, always found working upon the square. The virtues of vision, strength, and beauty were entwined in his character and as we recall his life, we do not remember him as an apprentice, or a faltering craftsman, but as a Master Builder.

He was also an excellent husband and father within his home, taking a great delight with his family whom he loved. And upon the morning of his decease was quoting and explaining to his boy the beauty of the twenty-third Psalm. His boys will always remember him as a patient, tender father, who was constantly helping them. The town and community will recall him as one who in business associations was always kind and gentle, and the elements in him so grandly mixed that nature might stand up before all the world and say, "This was a man." He was taken sick in April and for two weeks was largely confined to his bed. He rallied and all thought he was growing stronger, but upon special examination at the M.E. Hospital in Des Moines, it was found that his heart was almost worn out. He was sitting out upon the lawn and passed into the house with his wife, when he laid down. She heard a sound and he had passed peacefully away, June 24th, l920. He leaves to mourn his loss, his devoted wife, two sons, JAMES CURTISS and HUGH ERNEST SWIM; one brother, GEORGE, in Seattle, Wash.; one sister, MRS. ELLA FISHR, of Pleasantville, Iowa, and MRS. EVA GUAVAIN, of Minotare, Neb. He also leaves many fraternal brothers and sisters, besides a host of friends.

Build thee more stately mansions,

O my soul,

As the swift seasons roll;

Leave thy low vaulted past,

And let each new temple, nobler

than the last,

Shut thee from Heaven with a dome

more vast,

Till thou at length are free,

Leaving thine out-grown shell by

life's bresting sea.

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CARD OF THANKS.

We desire to thank the kind neighbors and friends and the members of the Masonic Order who so generously helped during the illness and death of our dear husband and father, and for the many beautiful flowers and for the many words of sympathy and comfort.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
April 30, 2002