Swan, Junior Jackson 1933 - 2013

SWAN, LONG, DUNWOODY, PRICE, CARTER, LAFFOON, ROETHLER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/22/2013 at 07:53:58

Junior Jackson Swan

September 22, 1933 - July 28, 2013

Junior J. Swan, 79, of Newton, IA and formerly of Chillicothe, IA passed away Sunday, July 28, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center West Lakes in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Junior Jackson Swan, son of Oscar and Dorothy (Long) Swan, was born September 22, 1933 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Junior was raised by his Uncle Happy and Aunt Amanda “Josie” Dunwoody of Eddyville and attended school in Eddyville where he graduated high school in 1951. Junior married Patricia Ann Price Carter, October 25, 1951, in Ottumwa.

He was first employed by John Morrell in Ottumwa where he worked for 14 plus years. He moved to Newton in 1966 and began working for the United Telephone Company doing installation. After 15 years with the telephone company, he and his wife, Patty, began doing independent phone installation and were involved in the installation of the 911 system in many parts of Iowa. After two years of working as independent contractors, Junior and Patty purchased the Mid-Iowa Motel in Newton. They later sold this motel and purchased the Village Inn Motel in Ottumwa, which they operated for several years, retiring in 1990. They then purchased a farm near Chillicothe, Iowa and enjoyed farming for several years. In 2012, they moved to Newton to be closer to their daughter. Junior enjoyed playing cards. Junior’s family includes his wife of 61 years, Patty Swan of Newton; a daughter, Jackie (Steve) Laffoon of Newton; a son, Jim (Kim) Swan of Leesburg, FL; a step-daughter, Gina (Robert) Roethler of Howell, MI; five grandchildren: Richard, Jennifer, Jeremy, Justin, and Kristen; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Kenneth Swan of Burlington, IA and several half-brothers and half-sisters. Junior was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral Services for Junior will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, August 1, 2013 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa. Burial will be in Bellefountain Cemetery near Tracy, IA. Visitation will be held from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday. Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army of Newton, IA. ~ The Des Moines (IA) Register Legacy online.