Mildred Swartzendruber

A celebration of life for Mildred A. (Gingerich) Swartzendruber, 90, of Kalona, will be held Friday, April 21, 2017 at 11:00 am at the Kalona United Methodist Church with Pastor Gerry Kahler officiating.  Burial will be held prior to the service at 9:45 am at the Sharon Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will be held Thursday, April 20, 2017 from 5-7 pm at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona.  A memorial fund has been established for the Kalona United Methodist Church and Pleasantview Home Building Fund.  Mildred A. Swartzendruber died Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona.

Mildred Arlene (Gingerich) Swartzendruber was born March 8, 1927 in rural Wellman, Iowa, the daughter of Ralph and Gertrude (Miller) Gingerich.  She attended Franklin rural school and on August 26, 1953 she was united in marriage to Emerson Swartzendruber at the Methodist Church in Kalona.  Mildred worked in housekeeping at the Pleasantview Home for over 20 years, was a member of the Kalona United Methodist Church, former member of the Kalona Lioness Club and the Idris Club of Kalona.  She served her church in many ways, including with the United Methodist Women's group as a circle leader and as a Sunday school teacher.  Mildred also volunteered at the Pleasantview Home on the Care Review Committee.  She enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking, making sugar mints, and loved the Chicago Cubs.  Mildred was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, making her grandkids a priority in her life; from attending their sporting and music events to baking and cooking for them.

Survivors include her daugther Cynthia (Don) Gingerich of Kalona, two grandchildren: Jeffrey (Myrissa) Gingerich of Iowa City, Jennifer (T.J.) Voss of Bondurant, five great grandchildren: Saylee, Caeson, Ayla, Greta and Calvin, a sister Imogene (Emil) Schlabaugh of Kalona, and a brother Dale Keith (Ruth) Gingerich of Carmel, CA.

Preceding Mildred in death were her parents, her husband Emerson in 1998 and her sister and brother-in-law Shirley and Jim Conrad.