Irene Swanson (1913-2006)

SWANSON, WARNER, MARTIN, SEYDEL, CRAIG, DUEDE, HAWORTH, WAITE, MCINTYRE, UITERMARKT, BARTELS

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 7/12/2006 at 07:24:40

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, July 11, 2006.

Irene Swanson
Aug. 29, 1913-July 10, 2006
Irene Warner Swanson, 92, of Ames, died Monday, July 10. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 1, at Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames, with the Rev. Cindy McCalmont officiating. Her body has been cremated. Dr. Frank Seydel, son-in-law, will conduct a graveside service in Iowa State University Cemetery before the memorial service.

Irene Eunice Warner was born Aug. 29, 1913, in Northwood, to Fred and Beth (Martin) Warner. A graduate of Northwood High School, she received a bachelor of science degree in education from the Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) in 1934. She was a member of Kappa Delta Pi education honorary, Tau Sigma Delta social sorority, and Pi Omega Pi business honorary. She completed some graduate work at the University of Iowa. She was a high school commercial teacher, one year in Ireton, one year in Holstein and four years in Spencer, where she met her husband, Edgar P. Swanson. They were married June 7, 1940, in Northwood.

They lived in Spencer and both sold insurance for Equitable of Iowa. They moved in Ames in 1942. With the outbreak of World War II, she again taught, this time in Early and Colo. While he taught at the Naval Training School at ISU, she was office manager in the business office at ISU in charge of secretarial help. She spent one year in Northwood when the Navy transferred Ed to Chicago, returning to Ames in 1945.

She was an award-winning saleswoman for Equitable of Iowa Life Insurance in Spencer and area representative for World Book/Childcraft in Ames. She was an active member of Collegiate United Methodist Church and the Iowa State University Women's Club for almost 60 years. She was a Camp Fire Leader for many years and served on the Camp Fire Board. She was an avid bridge player, Cyclone booster, party giver and newspaper reader and clipper. At her death, she was a member of the ISU National Cyclone Club, the Iowa State University Alumni Association, the ISU Retiree's Memorial Day Committee, ISU Women's Club, Hope Circle and Solos at Collegiate Methodist, Actors and the Lincoln Highway Association. She was called the Lustron Lady by other owners of Lustron steel houses. One special interest was promoting living wills and meaningful memorial services. It was Irene who kept the ISU Memorial Day ceremony alive.

Her flair, her spirit, her love of life, her involvement, her creativity, her parties and her love were an inspiration to daughters, Lynn, Kay and Beth; her grandchildren; and many friends. In all she did, she inspired many to excel.

She is survived by three daughters, Lynn (Frank) Seydel, of Mount Vernon, Kay Craig, of Ames, and Beth (Mark) Duede, of Santa Rosa, Calif.; six grandchildren, Melissa (Rob) Haworth, Laura Duede, David (Teri) Seydel, Roxanne (Brad) Waite, Suzy (Mike) McIntyre and Kathy (Brent) Uitermarkt; two great-granddaughters, Kaitlyn Seydel and Paige Irene Haworth; one brother, Fred D. (Merrilee) Warner, of Florida; in-laws Francine (Ivan) Bartels and Vivian Swanson; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Edgar P. Swanson (February 1987).

Memorials may be directed to the G.S. Nichol's Scholarship Fund at Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames, the Iowa State University Women's Club Senior Awards Fund, Shelly Boyd, treasurer, 118 N. Riverside Drive, Ames, or Heartland Senior Center, 205 S. Walnut Ave., Ames.

Mom was a remarkable mother and friend. We were privileged to share her love.

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