Donald L. Swab

Donald L. Swab, age 81, of Lancaster, died Saturday, May 17, 2008 at the Lancaster Care Center. He was born on February 12, 1927 on a farm in rural Lancaster, the son of Oscar and Elva M. (Bennett) Swab. On November 26, 1955, he married Elizabeth L. Bess Bilderback at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. Don attended Aupperle Grade School and graduated from Lancaster High School in 1944. He was drafted in the U. S. Army in 1945 and was stationed in Japan until 1947. After Don was discharged he went to work for Farley & Letcher in Dubuque for one year before working for Murray Electric from 1949 1970. He also was co-owner of Stich & Swab Texaco Station for a year. In 1970, Don started Swab Electric and sold and retired from the business in 1989. He also drove school bus for 21 years, was a volunteer with the Lancaster Fire Department for 24 years and was a member of the Sheriffs Posse in Grant County. Don was a cradle member of the United Methodist Church in Lancaster, served on the Lancaster City Council for 14 years, played Santa Claus for 15 years, and was member of the William Pollock VFW Post No. 2344 and the Richard Burns American Legion Post No. 109 both of Lancaster for over 50 years, including serving as Post Commander.

He is survived by four children: Karen (Dennis) Bradley, Janesville; Brenda (Ron) Williams, Prairie du Chien; Jerry (special friend, Lyrae) Swab, Lancaster; and Chuck (Vonnie) Swab, Boscobel; 15 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Dorothy Noble, Lancaster and Arlene Swab, Seymour, WI; three sisters-in-law, Marion Swab, Fitchburg; Hazel Soden, Lancaster and Florence Seaquist, Buffalo, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Bess on March 15, 2003; his parents; a son, Jakie; a brother, Roger and two great-grandchildren, Michael Jannisch and Maria Price.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Lancaster with Reverend Barbara Cook officiating. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster, where Military Honors were accorded by William Pollock VFW Post No. 2344 and the Richard Burns American Legion Post No. 109. Family and friends were welcomed from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, May 19 and from 9:30 a.m. until time of services Tuesday all at the church. In lieu of flowers and plants, a Donald L. Swab Memorial Fund has been established.