Lewis Swalve

GARNER – Lewis J. Swalve, 81, of rural Garner died Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 P.M., Wednesday, February 1st at First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center with Rev. William Peake officiating. Burial will be at Crystal Township Cemetery in Crystal Lake.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. Cataldo Funeral Home of Garner is in charge of arrangements.

Lewis John Swalve, the son of George and Gesina (Janssen) Swalve, was born May 30, 1935 in Algona. He graduated from Buffalo Center High School in 1953. On October 28, 1961, he married Donna Adams at First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center. The lived in the Garner and Hayfield area for most of their married life. Lewis was a jack of all trades. He was employed at Winnebago, Branstad Farms, K and B Potato Farm, Forester, worked on the Alaskan pipeline, Formanek Elevator, Doden Trucking, McCullough Chicken Farms, Hueneman Trucking, D and L Swalve Trucking and various farm jobs. Lewis also owned and operated Scarville Bar and Gas and Engine Repair Shop. He enjoyed his time with his wife, Donna, family gatherings, his grand and great grandchildren, truck driving, NASCAR, grilling and tooling on his old tractors.

In April of 1952, Lewis became a member of First Reformed Church and was an active member in his younger years.

Lewis is survived by his children, Kim Swalve of Thompson, Morgan Adams (significant partner, Ken Sisson) of Boston, MA, Merlin (Millie) Swalve of Lake Crystal, MN, Jill Fox (Dean Jensen) of Beulah, WY, Rex (Sandy) Swalve of Thompson, Beth Swalve (partner, Dennis Robinson) of Thompson and Raymond (Karla) Swalve of Garner; son-in-law, Dennis Potter of Forest City; twenty-four grandchildren; forty-two great grandchildren; three brothers, Arlo (Lucille) Swalve of Hinton, IA, Lloyd (Linda) Swalve of Mabel, MN and Cecil Swalve of Garner; a sister-in-law, Sharon Swalve of Sioux Falls, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna; his parents; a son, Kevin Swalve; a daughter, Gail Swalve Potter; great-granddaughter, Jasmine Ouderkerk; brothers, Larry and Allan Swalve; and parents-in-law, Leroy and Virginia Adams.