Funeral held for 1971 North High graduate

 

Funeral held for 1971 North High graduate 

Funeral services for David C. Swale, 60, of West Union were held Thursday, July 11, at United Methodist Church in West Union with the Rev. Chris Ebbers officiating.

Burial followed in the West Union Cemetery.

Burnham-Wood & S.K. Rogers Funeral Home, West Union, was in charge of the arrangements.

Dave’s death occurred on Friday, July 5, 2013.

David Charles “Dave” Swale was born July 2, 1953, in Washington, D.C., to Robert and Marie (Aue) Swale. 

He graduated from North High School in 1971.

On July 7, 1998, Dave was united in marriage with Janis Enyart in Oelwein. 

He worked for 34 years at John Falb Motor Company in West Union, running the auto body shop.

Dave then attended Kirkwood Community College, where he earned a truck driver’s certificate in 2003. He hauled grain for Jim Ihde Trucking and Hartlow Trucking, both in Hawkeye. He was currently employed as a semi operator for Bruening Rock Products in Decorah.

Dave served on the West Union ambulance service for 14 years.

He was a longtime member of United Methodist Church of West Union. 

He was an avid bowler with the Barrel Drive In bowling team, often attending state bowling competitions. 

Dave was also an all-time points champion (4485) at the Fayette County Speedway, where he raced his #56 car. He raced for over 20 years locally with great success.

In his leisure time, Dave enjoyed racing, camping and traveling with his wife, Janis, bowling, bingo, and collecting pieces of West Union history. Recently he enjoyed watching backyard birds. He was a devoted family member with a kind heart and open arms. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, sharing jokes and pranks at every opportunity.

Dave will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert; a daughter, Wendy Swale; a sister, Judy Jones Vint; and his father-in-law, Donald Enyart.

Dave is survived by his mother, Marie Swale of West Union; his wife, Janis, of West Union; a son, Ryan (Christin) Swale of Dubuque; four stepchildren, Denise (Joshua) Hagen of Cedar Rapids, Dawn (Christopher) Lambert of Edmond, Okla., John Marreel of Osage, and Jacqueline (Steven) Blank of Mason City; six grandchildren, Ethan Swale, Dakota Hagen, Tyler Hagen, Joy Hagen, Evan Lambert and John Blank,

Also surviving are a brother, Thomas E. (Stephanie) Swale of Sarasota, Fla.; his mother-in-law, Sara Enyart of Postville; numerous other family members and friends.

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