Obituary for Neal D. Swearingen
Obituary Neal D. Swearingen Smithland, IA - Neal D. Swearingen, 85, of Smithland, Iowa died Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting, Iowa. Funeral services will be Monday, March 12, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Hornick, Iowa with Pastor Catie Newman and Pastor Karen Handke officiating. Burial will be in the Willow Township Cemetery at Holly Springs, Iowa. Visitation will be Sunday, March 11, 2012 after 5:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton, IA. The family will be present for visitation with a luncheon Monday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the church. On line condolences can be left for the family at armstrongfuneral.com. Neal Delane Swearingen was born May 31, 1926, on the Swearingen farm at Sparks, Nebraska, the son of Arthur LeRoy and Luella Fern (Bristol) Swearingen. He grew up and was educated at Sparks and Valentine, Nebraska . Though he worked hard, he also loved "playing cowboy" in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. He served in the U.S. Navy for a time in 1944. On May 19, 1949, Neal was united in marriage to Ione Meili at Valentine, Nebraska. In 1956, Neal took a job with the Iowa Master Breeders in Carroll, Iowa and soon accepted a job with Coon Rapids Cream Station at their location in Smithland, Iowa. He operated the creamery in Smithland until he started farming the Jim White place in 1959 and went on to farm the Steinhoff place from 1962 until 1980. Due to health reasons, the couple moved in to Smithland which they continued to call home. Neal enjoyed fishing, playing cards, especially pitch, coffee with friends, his two kittens, and western movies. Neal became a talented cook and baker, frequently sharing his baked goods with family and friends alike. He was also known for having produced a few good batches of "home brew". Above all, Neal cherished his grand kids and great grand kids recognizing that he became progressively more lenient with the younger ones as the years passed. Those left to cherish their personal memories of Neal are Ione (Meili) Swearingen, his wife of 62 years; three sons and their wives, Boyd and Connie Swearingen of Smithland, Iowa, Bill and Bonnie Swearingen of Leoti, Kansas, and Wayne and Jackie Swearingen of Mapleton, Iowa; two daughters, Bethann Bakker and her husband, Verlyn, of Sanborn, Iowa and Dona Swearingen of Moville, Iowa; nieces, Marcie Henrie and her husband, TJ of Washington, Utah, Shelia Stabe and her husband, Bob, of Altoona, Wisconsin, and Bernadine Henrie of Anchorage, Alaska; 18 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren; and one great great granddaughter; one sister, Reva Thorpe of Canon City, Colorado; one brother-in-law, Carl Fischer of Beuna Vista, Colorado; and one son-in-law, Mike Robson and his wife, Jacie, of Wilcox, Arizona. Neal was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Roger Swearingen; a daughter, Betty Robson; a great granddaughter, Ariel Robson; three sisters, Chloe Shelbourn, Avis Cady, and Mildred Fischer; and one brother, Doug Swearingen.
Service:
2:00 p.m.
United Methodist Church Hornick, IA
Visitation:
Sunday, March 11, 2012 after 5:00 p.m. Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.
Armstrong Funeral Home 210 So. 5th St. Mapleton, IA 51034
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Service:
2:00 p.m.
United Methodist Church Hornick, IA
Visitation:
Sunday, March 11, 2012 after 5:00 p.m. Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.
Armstrong Funeral Home 210 So. 5th St. Mapleton, IA 51034
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