Creston News-Advertiser
Creston, Union County, Iowa
September 17, 1987

Donald Dean SWANK, 42, of Lenox, died by drowning Saturday, Sept. 12, 1987.

He was born Sept. 6, 1945, in Kellerton, the son of Raymond and Margaret (PACHA) SWANK. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965 - 1968. He worked for Trost and Swank Tilling at Lenox.

Mr. SWANK is survived by a daughter, Nicky Lynn SWANK; and a step-daughter, Terry PETERSON, all of Chillicothe, Mo.; his mother, Margaret SWANK of Lenox; two brothers, Merle and Gary SWANK, both of Lenox; a sister, Carolyn WILSON of Clearfield; and a grandmother, Avis PACHA of Diagonal.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the First Christian Church in Lenox with the Rev. Jack CUTBIRTH officiating. Burial was at the Rose Hill Cemetery at Mt. Ayr with the Coen-Beaty Funeral Home of Lenox in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2010

Lenox Time Table
Lenox, Iowa
Wednesday September 16, 1987

Two deaths - both ending in lakes occurred in Taylor County last week. One was the result of a natural death, and the other, was the result of an automobile accident.

Helen Scott, 71, of Sheridan, Mo., was found dead Tuesday, Sept. 8, near the dam of Lake of Three Fires State Park north of Bedford. Five days later, the body of Donald Dean Swank, 42, of Lenox was discovered in an overturned pickup truck on the edge of Wilson Lake south of Lenox.

The Swank death was attributed to a one-car accident. Information from nearby residents and possible witnesses indicated that Swank lost control of his 1967 Ford pickup about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. The submerged truck was discovered at 8:30 a.m. the next morning.

Investigations indicated that Swank apparently lost control of the truck when it was southbound on a gravel road near Wilson's Lake.

The driver "swerved for an unknown reason," according to the sheriff's report, and went into a deep ditch, traveled along an embankment, hit a culvert, rolled on its top and became submerged in water on the edge of the lake. The driver was pinned inside.

The incident was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol with assistance from the Taylor County Sheriff's Department.

Lenox Time Table
Lenox, Iowa
Wednesday September 23, 1987

Donald Dean Swank, the son of Raymond and Margaret Pacha Swank, was born September 6, 1945, at Kellerton, Iowa and passed away September 12, 1987 of accidental drowning at the age of 42 years and seven days.

On July 20, 1973, he was united in marriage to Virginia Lillie. To this union were born a daughter Nicky Lynn and a son Daniel Dean.

Don enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 31, 1965 for three years. He took his basic training at Ft Leonardwood, Mo. He spent the last two years in Anchorage, Alaska, and was discharged on June 3, 1968.

Possessed of a kind and friendly disposition, he was liked by all who knew him. He was happiest when he was surrounded by his family.

He loved the outdoors and fishing.

Don was preceded in death by his father and one brother-in-law.

He leaves to mourn his loss his daughter Nicky and son Danny of Chillicothe, Mo.; his mother Margaret with whom he made his home; sister Carolyn and husband Wayne Wilson of Clearfield; brothers Merle and wife Barb; Gary and wife Pam; all of Lenox; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins; and grandmother Avis Pacha of Diagonal.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 15, 1987, 1:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Lenox with Dr. Jack Cutbirth officiating. Interment was at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mt. Ayr, Ia.

Transcriptions and Submission by Lorelei Rusco, February of 2014

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