Elwood Swartzendruber

KALONA - Elwood James Swartzendruber was born November 26, 1931, in rural Parnell, Iowa, the son of Ora and Bertha (Miller) Swartzendruber. He graduated form Iowa Mennonite School. On August 4, 1962, Elwood was united in marriage to Ethel Witmer in Willow Street, Pennsylvania. They lived in Sharon Center for 12 years and then in rural Wellman for many years where they farmed. Elwood and Ethel retired to Kalona in July of 2012. He worked as a Physical Therapy Aide at the University of Iowa Hospital for 32 years. Elwood was a member of the Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church. Elwood died unexpectedly on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona at the age of 86 years.
Elwood is survived by his wife Ethel of Kalona; a son Gary Swartzendruber of Parnell; 2 daughters: Sherie Swartzendruber of Iowa City ; Jolene (George) Stoltzfus of Parkesburg, PA; 5 grandchildren; and 4 sisters: Wanda (Marion ) Yoder of Goshen, IN; Loris (Richard) Cunningham of Manheim, PA; Janice (Linden) Smith of Lima, OH; and Myrna (David) Moyer of Telford, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law Curtis Graber.

Celebration Of Life Service will be held 2:00 pm Saturday, November 24, 2018, at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church. Pastor Don Patterson and Pastor Steve Nelson will officiate. Burial will be held in Lower Deer Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for Pleasantview Home and Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church.