Mary Katherine Swenka
SWENKA, WILLIAMS, LINDHART, BARKER, FIELD, HICKS, BROWN, KINTZEL, SNAKENBERG
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 5/3/2021 at 14:04:58
Mary Katherine Swenka, 76, of rural Tiffin went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 surrounded by family after a lengthy illness.
Funeral Services will be held at 10AM, Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Grace Community Church, 2707 Dubuque Street NE, North Liberty, Iowa. Rev. Ruby Bongolan will officiate. Visitation will be at the church on Friday, April 30 from 4 to 7 PM. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tiffin. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Tiffin United Methodist Church or to the Mary Swenka Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Due to the pandemic please wear a mask and be respectful of social distancing.
Mary was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on January 19, 1945 to George A. and Katherine M.(Lindhart) Williams and was graduated from Iowa City City High in 1963. She earned her Degree in Education and Psychology from the University of Iowa in 1967.
Mary met the love of her life, George Swenka, at City High. The high school sweethearts were married on July 3, 1965 at the Congregational Church of Iowa City. Their marriage of 55 years was lived on their family farm near Tiffin, Iowa where they raised their two children, Steve and Suzy. Mary was a dedicated farm wife and mother. She and George raised Purebred Angus Cattle together throughout their married life.
Mary’s greatest joy was serving the students of the Clear Creek Amana School district where she taught for over 50 years. She was still substitute teaching every day until Covid 19 closed schools down in March 2020. She cherished every child that she met, and everywhere she went in the community she was met with hugs from kids excited to see her outside of school. Her love for kids was apparent and they loved her back. Students with special needs had an even more special corner of her heart.
Mary was an active member of the Tiffin United Methodist Church. She loved God and her church family, and she joyfully taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was never met without a smile on her face and a story to tell. She was a very proud grandma and never ever missed an opportunity to tell others about all the great things her grandchildren were accomplishing. She was an avid supporter of CCA activities and a diehard Hawkeye fan.
Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband, George; son George Stephen “Steve” (Amy) Swenka of Tiffin, IA; daughter Suzanne Marie “Suzy” (Thad) Barker of North Liberty, IA; her 7 beloved grandchildren: Jake & Will (fiance Jessica Field) Swenka, and Kaylie, Brandon, Haidyn, Kira, & Drew Barker; her siblings: Beth (Ed) Hicks, Joe (Paula) Williams, & Lara (Bill) Brown, and her sisters and brothers in law: Jean (Kenny) Kintzel & Bev (Dick) Snakenberg. Her memory will also be cherished by many nieces, nephews, neighbors, friends, and countless current and former CCA students whose lives she made brighter over her 50+ years of dedication to them.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Capt. George A. & Katherine Williams of San Diego, CA and by her in-laws George J. & Marie Swenka of rural Tiffin.
The family wishes to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Craig Champion, her physician of 50 years, who faithfully called to check on her in her final weeks even after her care had been moved to the UIHC.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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