Grace Bruner Swartz 1887-1966

SWARTZ, BRUNER, SCHAPER, BOOK, BALLENGER, GALLAND, MECKLING, CARLSON, ARNTZEN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/30/2010 at 19:55:09

Mrs. Ira Swartz Dies
Mrs. Ira Swartz, 78, an Emmet County resident for 66 years, died early Thursday night at Holy Family Hospital following a series of strokes.

In failing health for two years, she entered the hospital Monday following a stroke, suffered a second one Tuesday and a third, from which she never recovered, on Thursday.

Grace Bruner was born July 12, 1887, in Beatrice, Neb., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Bruner. At the age of 12 she came to Emmet County with her father and received her education in county schools near Wallingford.

Nov. 1, 1902, she was married to Ira Swartz in the Estherville Presbyterian manse. The couple farmed in the Wallingford and Estherville areas for 40 years, moved to a farm six miles southwest of Estherville in 1940, and came to Estherville two years ago.

Mrs. Swartz was a member of the Estherville First Presbyterian Church for more than 60 years, a Sunday school teacher and a lifetime member of the church’s Fidellas Class. She had served as president of the Presbyterian Church Women, state president of the Service Star Legion and president of the Gold Star Mothers.

She was a longtime member of the Four Mile Lake Country Club.

Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Mrs. Otto (Ruby) Schaper and Mrs. Lee (Edith) Book of Estherville; 10 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; five sisters, Mrs. Gladys Ballenger of Broken Bow, Neb.; and Mrs. Victor Galland, Mrs. Harold Meckling, Mrs. Henry Carlson and Mrs. Otto Arntzen of Amery, Wis.; one brother, Glen Bruner of Amery; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Myrtle; and one son, Donald, the first Emmet County casualty in World War II; and two brothers.

Family services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, followed by 2 p.m. public services at the church, Rev. H. Allen Wirtz officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Friends may call at Reese Funeral Home from 7 p.m. Saturday until noon, Monday, when the body will be taken to the church to lie in state. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, February 4, 1966)