Wilson Swantz

A celebration of life for Wilson Swantz, 86 of Kalona will be held Friday, April 12, 2013 at 10:30 AM at the Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church with Pastors Elmer Miller and Leon Stutzman officiating. Burial will follow at the Upper Deer Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, April 11 from 2-4 and 5-7 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for the Upper Deer Creek Church, Pleasantview Home and Hospice of Iowa City. Wilson Swantz died Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona.

Wilson Ray Swantz was born October 9, 1926 in rural Johnson County, the son of Emmet and Anna (Helmuth) Swantz. He was baptized in his youth and was a member of the Upper Deer Creek Church. Wilson served in the CPS in Terry, Montana and also in the New Jersey Mental Hospital. He was united in marriage to Mattie Miller on February 1, 1951 in Topeka, Indiana. In the middle of February 1951 the couple moved to Kalona, Iowa. Farming was his life for a number of years and he later became an electrician and sales and serviceman for De Laval milking equipment, retiring in 2000.

Survivors include his wife Mattie of Kalona, three sons; Ervin (Cindy) Swantz of Excell, Missouri, Earl Swantz of Kalona, Elwood Swantz and friend Sherry of Kalona, four grandchildren, three step grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, two sisters; Amelia (Daniel E.) Yoder of Kalona, Barbara Miller of Kalona, one brother; Chuck (Lorena) Swantz of Kalona, and two sisters in law; Gretchen Swantz of Kalona, and Mary Swantz of Kalona.

Preceding Wilson in death were his parents, two brothers; Lewis and Jonas Swantz, one sister; Fannie Yoder, two brothers in law; Lewis Yoder and Henry Miller.