Gertrude Swindler's Obituary
GERTRUDE SWINDLER 1927-2012
Gertrude Evelyn Hansen Swindler, age 84, passed from this life February 4, 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was preceded in death by husband Calvin E. Swindler, baby daughter Linda, a much-loved daughter-in-law Marjorie Swindler, her parents, 2 sisters and 4 brothers. Surviving are 3 siblings, 7 children, 41 grandchildren, and 43 great grandchildren.
The children are Iris Tobler (Bryan) Springville, Utah, James C. Swindler (Nancy) Bountiful, Utah, Allen K. Swindler (Joanne) Provo, Utah, Marlene Sagers (Richard) Fort Worth, Texas, Norman O. Swindler (Michele) Neptune, New Jersey, Linette Terry (Byron) Salt Lake City, Utah, and Phillip J. Swindler (Julie) Provo, Utah. Her beloved siblings are Ruth Rodewald (Alfred), Betty Shoemaker (Erman), and Hank Hansen (Greta). Mom sincerely loved Calvin's sisters Mary Ena Sloan, Arlene Garrison, Adalene Briggeman (Homer), and her brother-in-law Eugene Swindler (Bonnie), who also survive her. These relatives live in Missouri, Kansas, and Indiana.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the Provo Canyon Ward Building at 4300 North Canyon Road, Provo, Utah. Viewing will be at the same location from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, February 11. Burial will be at East Lawn Memorial Hills, Provo, Utah. Our beautiful mother was born March 21, 1927 in Wallis, Texas to H.M. and Mary (Bates) Hansen. She spent her childhood in a tiny, close-knit community in the Arkansas Ozarks. Her father, the pastor of the Lutherville Lutheran church, was her schoolteacher throughout grade school. Mom is 5th of 10 Hansen children. The Hansen family moved just outside Jefferson City, Missouri in time for Mom to attend high school there.
She married Calvin Swindler June 6, 1948 in Vallonia, Indiana. Dad and Mom operated a wheat farm for 20 years in Southwest Kansas and built a home there. In 1969 the family relocated to Provo, Utah. Mom spent the next 3 decades raising children, welcoming sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren into the family, and doing a multitude of projects. After 49 years of marriage, Mom lost husband Calvin in 1997. She spent 7 years in Salt Lake living next door to Linette who provided loving assistance. We gratefully acknowledge the care given to Mom by Canyon Creek Assisted Living Center for the past three years and the sensitive and loving care given by Joan Pfau of Hospice for Utah for the past year. Most of all, we thank Linette for countless deeds and years of devoted service to Mom.
Words that describe our mother: sweet and gentle, beautiful smile, focused on the needs of others, unfailingly kind, hard working, diligent, strong testimony of Jesus Christ, and sincerely living His Gospel. Significant events in her life include her 1954 baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the 1956 temple sealing of the family.
Her favorite activities included vegetable gardens and flowers, family history, creating beautiful handwork, and attending the temple. She created 2 books of family history, sharing her extensive genealogical research with generations of relatives. She and Calvin both loved their parents, siblings, and in-laws, communicating often by letter and regularly attending family reunions.
She is known as a good cook, prolific gardener, expert seamstress, dedicated homemaker, and thorough family historian. Most of all, she is a terrific grandmother and a patient, caring mother, referring to her children as “our treasures.” Mom, we love you!
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