Emilie “Emmie” C. Swenson, 74, of Dubuque, died Friday, March 24, 2017, at Unity Point Health-Finley Hospital.
Visitation will be held Thursday from 4 to 7 pm at the Egelhof, Siegert and Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 Kennedy Road where Funeral services will be held 11 am Friday. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
Emmie was born April 1, 1942, in Rockford, IL, daughter of Arthur and Margery (Cannell) Fischer. She graduated from Rockford West High School in 1960. She married Jack Swenson on January 26, 1963, in Rockford, IL, and they were happily married for over 50 years.
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Emmie cared for others as a nursing aid at Our Lady of Lourdes Convalescent Home. She readily donated her time as a volunteer in the community. Emmie was Vice President of Ja-Mar Pattern, working tirelessly for 38 years alongside her husband until retirement several years ago. After retirement, she enjoyed camping with friends and traveling the country to visit family in her “home on wheels”.
Emmie was an avid bowler and instilled that joy in hundreds of children through her many years of coaching. She enjoyed other sports and was a lifelong Nascar racing fan, attended several races throughout the country, and always cheering Jeff Gordon #24 to victory lane. She was also a longtime Cubs fan, finally cheering them on to a championship.
Emmie was a voracious reader and instilled that love of reading in her daughters and granddaughters. She enjoyed listening to “classic” country music, sometimes to the chagrin of her family.
Emmie loved all animals, but particularly the dogs that accompanied her through life, Kuri, Sam, Brandy, Zach, Tyler, Shelby, and Lucy. She loved them all.
Emmie was many things to many people; wife, mother, grandmother, friend, sister, but no matter who you were, she always had a friendly smile and a kind word to offer. She will be greatly missed by those whose lives are better through having known her.
Emmie is survived by her husband, Jack Swenson, of Dubuque; two daughters, Dana Swenson (Steven Fogarty), of Wichita, KS, and Jennifer Swenson (Paul Shoytush), of Clarkston, MI; two granddaughters, Elise and Erin Shoytush, of Clarkston, MI; two sisters, Jinny (Dick) Bridgeland, of Palmview, TX, and Juliann (Larry) Benedict, of Mason City, IL; and a special cousin, Georgi (Chuck) Tussing, of Rockford, IL.
Emmie is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Margery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Tri-State Independent Blind Society, 3333 Asbury Rd, Dubuque, IA 52002 or The Dubuque Humane Society, 4242 Chavenelle Rd, Dubuque, IA 52002.
Special thanks to Dianne Stecklein and her caring staff.
May you be blessed with warmth in your home, love in your heart, peace in your soul and joy in your life — Irish Blessing
For further information, please visit www.egelhof siegertcasper.com.