logo

 webmaster
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
home obituaries community events links contact subscribe about
line

banner

-Ernest R. Swailes-

Ernest (Ernie) R. Swailes, 87, of Riverside, died Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City due to complications of West Nile Virus.

Mass of the Resurrection was held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 17, 2007 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside.  Rev. Rich Adam officiated the services.  Burial was in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery with military rites by the combined units of the Riverside VFW Post 6414 and Lone Tree American Legion Post #457.  Casketbearers were Jason Thomann, Matthew Slay, Nicholas Slay, Jeromy Slay, Conor Malloy and Bradley Swailes.  Honorary Casketbearers were Dimitri Adams and Keenan Adams.  Following the committal services at the cemetery, a time of food and fellowship was held in the Parish Life Center at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  Visitation for Ernie was held on Friday, November 16, from 2:00 – 7:00 P.M. with the family present from 2:00-4:00 and 5:00-7:00 at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Riverside.  A prayer service was held at 7:00 P.M.  A memorial fund has been established at the funeral home in memory of Ernie.  Sympathy notes may be left for the Swailes family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

Ernest Ralph Swailes was born on August 4, 1920 in rural Ainsworth, the son of James E. and Helen A. (Dvorak) Swailes.  Ernie graduated from Riverside High School with perfect attendance in 1939.  He then attended the American Welding Institute in Pennsylvania prior to being drafted.  Ernie served with the United States Army in the 104th Infantry Division, Timberwolf Unit during WWII from November of 1942 to December of 1945 in Germany and Belgium.  After returning from the military, Ernie attended Cohn’s Electrical School in Chicago.  On July 29, 1950, Ernie was united in marriage to Norma H. Kasper in Richmond, Iowa.  Ernie owned and operated Swailes Electric from 1947 to present.  He was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside, the Lone Tree American Legion Post #457 in Lone Tree, and was a past member of the Riverside VFW Post 6414.  Ernie enjoyed doing many things with his wife; bowling, playing golf, going to horse and dog races, playing horseshoes and dancing.  Most of all Ernie enjoyed spending time with his family.         .

Ernie will be deeply missed by his wife, Norma, of Riverside; one son, Dean E. Swailes and his wife, Patricia, of Riverside; five daughters, Jane M. Thomann and her husband, Ross, of Columbus Junction, Carol S. Malloy and her husband, Albert, of Sturgeon, Missouri, Mary K. Slay and her husband, Craig, of Riverside, Betty A. Adams of Cardiff, California and Lori J. Swailes and special friend, Bill Montag of North Liberty; thirteen grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; one brother, Richard L. Swailes and his wife, Mary, of Ainsworth; one sister, Marie A. Shalla and her husband, Norman, and one sister-in-law, Margaret Swailes of Riverside.

Ernie was preceded in death by one son, Larry Keith, his parents, and one brother, Donald Swailes.

Return to Obituaries Home