"I am so sorry to hear about John...and what an incredible life he lived! I didn't know John, but am old friends with Mary. So I am holding him and his family and friends up to the light."
In loving memory of
John Swander
April 8, 1946 - November 15, 2013
John Mark, son of John C. and Rita (Lynch) Swander was born in Carroll, IA on April 8, 1946. He journeyed through a life of adventure--from flying on an old World War II troop plane over China, to riding a camel through the deserts of North Africa. In his youth, John lived in Manning, graduated from Davenport Central High School in Davenport in 1964, and then served in the U.S. Navy as a communications specialist on an aircraft carrier in the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and in Morocco. He returned to the States and obtained his B.S. in International Affairs from Georgetown University Foreign Service School in 1971. From there, his career in international telecommunications with IBM and other firms took him to nearly every continent, culminating with him negotiating a joint development and marketing agreement with the China Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. Swander married his first wife Sharon Smith in August of 1969. They had two children Michelle and Robert. Swander enjoyed travelling and skiing with his family, playing the guitar and following sports. Swander held dual citizenship in the United States and Ireland. He married his second wife Nancy Dammann McCord in Abbeyglen Castle in Clifden, Ireland in September 2009. He promised to take her to see the world. Together, they visited Thailand, Cambodia, Ireland, England, Belgium, The Netherlands, France, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, and Costa Rica. During the last three years while he was struggling with illness, Swander was determined to live life to the fullest. He and Nancy travelled to Morocco, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Argentina. He was thrilled to attend his son's wedding in Australia and his daughter's wedding in Jamaica. Off the road, John and Nancy lived happily together in Carroll where they were surrounded with friends and relatives. John passed away peacefully on Friday, November 15, 2013, at the age of 67 at home in Carroll, Iowa, with his loving wife Nancy and brother James at his side. He was preceded in death by his parents John C. Swander and Rita Lynch Swander. John is survived by his wife Nancy Swander, son Robert Swander (Katrine) in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, daughter Michelle Geraty Wells (Travis) in Austin, Texas, brother James Swander in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, sister Mary Swander in Ames, IA, and former spouse Sharon Swander in Austin, Texas. His grandchildren include Conner and Mason Geraty and Kate and Margaret Wells in Austin, Texas. His stepchildren and grandchildren include Marty McCord (Holly) in Carroll, IA, and his son Gage and stepdaughter Kari Gurney and sons Peyton and Mitchell. His in-laws include Leroy and Freda Dammann, Richard and Elaine Dammann, Sandra and Keith Hass, and Geri and Kenny Spies all of Manning. Memorial contributions may be made in John Swander's name to the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN or the American Cancer Society. Visitation Wednesday, November 20, 2013, after 4 P.M. Ohde Funeral Home Manning, Iowa Funeral Service Thursday, November 21, 2013, 10:30 A.M. Ohde Funeral Home Manning, Iowa Music Ron Husted, bagpiper Casket Bearers James Swander Robert Swander Robert Stone Marty McCord Travis Wells Steven Shrum Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery Manning, Iowa
Tributes
"On behalf of the Class of 64 Breakfast Club, we extend our deepest sympathy to you Nancy and the entire family. We know that John would have loved attending one of our breakfasts and we would have enjoyed having him. Our prayers are with you."
"Our deepest sympathies to Nancy, Mary , Jim and extended family. Thinking of you all today on this sad occasion, and also of the good times spent with John. From our first meeting with John and Nancy on Stephen's Green - Dublin to the wonderful day's spent at "Patches" in the West of Ireland. May he Rest in Peace. David, Siobhan, Dinah, Eoin and Helen"
"Dear Nancy, Mary, Jim and John's family, Ed and I extend our since sympathy to all of you. I have wonderful memories of so many good times the Rix and Swander families spent together. John certainly led a successful and interesting life. T am so sorry that the WDJB threat of bad weather Thursday is keeping me from attending John's funeral and getting to visit with you."
"I am remembering John as a young boy playing in our Manning neighborhood. Witnessing a bit of his beautiful life leaves me in awe of what that boy accomplished. My prayers are with John, Jim, Mary, Nancy and families."