Mattie Swantz, 98, of Kalona, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at Pleasantview in Kalona. Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Upper Deer Creek Church. Burial followed at Upper Deer Creek Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for Pleasantview, Hospice of Iowa City, and Upper Deer Creek Church.
Mattie (Miller) Swantz was born Jan. 29, 1923, in Topeka, Indiana, the daughter of John and Martha (Miller) Miller. She attended rural school in LaGrange County, Indiana. Mattie was baptized in her youth. On Feb. 1, 1951, she was united in marriage to Wilson R. Swantz in Topeka, Indiana.
In the middle of February 1951, the couple moved to Kalona. She worked as a nurse aid at Shenk Nursing Home in Wellman and cooked and served meals at Pleasantview.
Mattie was a member of Upper Deer Creek Church and the Fairview Quilting Group. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family, grandchildren, and friends. The greatest blessing of her life was serving God.
Survivors include three sons: Ervin (Cindy) Swantz of Excello, Missouri, Earl Swantz of Kalona, Elwood Swantz (Sherry) of Kalona; four grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Preceding Mattie in death were her parents; her husband: Wilson in 2013; three brothers: Ervin (Lizzie), Samuel, and John Jr. (Freda); and eight sisters: Elizabeth (Manas) Bontrager, Sarah (Perry) Yoder, Lena (Bernard) Suderman, Naomah (Ervin) Slabach, Clara (Andrew) Yoder, Edna (Amos) Yoder, Mary (Amos) Schlabach and Katie (Enos) Miller.
