Dean Swearingen

SWEARINGEN, DEMOUTH, BUCKLEY, TOBIS, HANSON, SHANER, HENDERSON, CUMMINGS, KEUNING, LARSON, WILHARM

Posted By: Skipton
Date: 2/8/2011 at 17:33:57

Source: The Columbus Gazette.

Dean Swearingen, 83, of Waukee, passed away on Wednesday, December 22, 2010, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. His family received friends from 2 – 4:00 p.m., Sunday, December 26 at Iles Funeral Homes-Westover Chapel. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, December 27, at Douglas Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Born September 17, 1927, in Winfield, Iowa, he was the youngest child of George and Priscilla Swearingen. Dean had a great appreciation for his Iowa farm background, and was proud of the Heritage Farm recognition, awarded to his family in 2007. As a 50- year member of the Masonic Winfield Grand Lodge of Iowa, his ties to Winfield continued throughout his lifetime.

Dean graduated from Iowa State University in 1950 and taught vocational agriculture in several small town high schools in Iowa. He later transitioned into a career of data processing, working for Dial Finance, and later for the State of Iowa-Department of Human Resources. He retired in 1990 from the State after 20 years of service.

In 1991, Dean married Helen DeMouth. Together they have spent winters in Florida and traveled extensively throughout the United States and internationally. He loved cruises, which have taken the couple to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama and Europe.

Dean was involved in many organizations, often assuming a leadership role. He was a member of Douglas Avenue Presbyterian Church in Des Moines and the International Blue Willow Collectors for which he was the treasurer. His passion in the last few years has been as a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), both at the state and national levels. He was the current President of the State Chapter of the SAR, and the Vice-President General of the Northwest District of Iowa.

Dean was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen; parents, George and Priscilla, and his brother George. He is survived by his wife Helen; daughters, Becky (Rick) Buckley of Savannah, GA and Vicki (Gary) Tobis of North Palm Beach, FL; son Don of Des Moines; grandchildren, Eric Tobis of Fairfax, VA, Luke Tobis of Washington, D.C., and Tara (Jay) Josefik of Richmond Hill, GA; great-grandson, Ellis Josefik; his sister, Evelyn (Al) Hanson of Ventura, CA; Sister-in-law, Marian Swearingen of Sigourney, Ia; step-daughters, Donna (Larry) Shaner of Ankeny, Sheryl DeMouth of Johnston, Janet (Corey) Henderson, of Waukee, Linda Cummings and Frankie DeMouth, both of Grimes; step-sons, Jerry (Pam) DeMouth of Polk City and Patrick DeMouth of Clive.

Dean will be remembered as “Grandpa Dean” by Maggie (Bryon) Moore, Katie (Jared) Keuning, Ryan (Tracie) Shaner, Jacob DeMouth, Lucas DeMouth, Megan, Ben, and Matthew DeMouth, Rachel and David Henderson, Lauren (Andrew) Larson, Leah Cummings, Nathan Cummings, and Anna Wilharm, and nine other great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers the family suggest contributions to Douglas Avenue Presbyterian Church, SAR-Center for Advancing American Heritage of First Presbyterian Church of Tequesta Fl.