Swinton, Donna L. "LuAnn" 1931-2012

SWINTON, MOINE, GROBASKI

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/25/2025 at 10:32:03

LuAnn Swinton
1931 - 2012
Manchester, IA

Donna L. "LuAnn" Swinton died of natural causes at Marietta's Place care center in Manchester, Iowa on January 14, 2012. She was born to Margaret and Lou Moine on November 26, 1931 in a farm home eight miles east of Nashua, Iowa. She was the youngest of seven children, including her brothers and sisters Winifred, Bud, Dick, Marian, Albert and Grace. She married Fred Swinton, also of the Nashua area, on September 10, 1950. LuAnn obtained a teaching certificate and taught school in a country schoolhouse in Nashua. LuAnn and Fred eventually moved to Urbandale, Iowa where they later purchased an acreage and raised their three children, Stephen, JoAnn and David.

After Fred passed away in 1970, LuAnn founded the Farmer In The Dell Preschool which she operated at the acreage for 30 years. Farmer In The Dell introduced the many hundreds of children who attended not only to the joy of learning and the many crafts projects which LuAnn designed for them, but also to the delight of caring for animals including rabbits, chickens and lambs.

LuAnn was always quick with a smile and a hearty laugh. One of the many ways in which she demonstrated her love to family and friends was through her wonderful cooking and hospitality. She also enjoyed gardening, bridge, crafts and woodworking. She was a longtime member of the United Church of Christ in Urbandale and the Urbandale Lioness Club.

In addition to her husband, LuAnn was preceded in death by her father, mother and siblings. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Susan Swinton of Poway, California, daughter JoAnn of Manchester, Iowa, and son David of Johnston, Iowa, grandchildren Kimberly (Jeff) Grobaski of Fort Collins, Colorado, Kameron (Megan) Swinton of San Diego, California, and Kristiaan Swinton of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and three great-grandchildren, Mason and Finley Grobaski and Hadley Swinton.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 21 at the United Church of Christ, 3530 70th Street in Urbandale. A visitation with the family will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the service at 11 and a lunch reception at the church. Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Published by the Des Moines (IA) Register on Jan. 17, 2012.