LuVerne Swezey

LuVerne Swezey, age 93 of Ortonville, died on Monday, June 5, 2017 at Fairway View.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, June 8, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at First English Lutheran Church with Pastor David Tonn officiating. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be held immediately following the funeral services at Mound Cemetery in Ortonville.

Music will be provided by Amy Adelman, organist. Casket bearers will be Ross Gauger, Bob Swezey, Wade Swezey, Brad Schmidt, Allen Gerber, and Earl McDaniel. Honorary bearers will be Chad Gauger, Gil Vandeventer, Warren Gerber, Glenn Joplin, Lauren Sansness, Rick Gerber, Gary Gerber, Larry Vandeventer, and Danny Swezey.

LuVerne Alma Swezey was born on August 6, 1923, to Edward and Olga (Pomerenke) Gerber in Ortonville, MN. LuVerne grew up on the Sleepy Hollow farm located south of Ortonville. She graduated from the Odessa High School in 1941. She moved to Minneapolis in 1942 and attended cosmetology school. LuVerne married Emil Swezey on June 23, 1943. After Emil’s time in the Army during World War II, they resided in Wheaton, MN. They moved to Clinton, MN a few years later. They lived there for many years and raised their family.

In 1993, they moved to Willmar and in 1995, moved to Ortonville. During their retirement years, LuVerne and Emil traveled throughout North America in their RV. They were involved with the Elderhostel Program and visited 13 hostels, each in a different state and one in Sweden. They visited all 50 states and spent their winters in the south. They toured Europe twice! They enjoyed making new friends from all parts of the world, square dancing, and playing cards. LuVerne stayed active playing Bridge and going for daily walks around Fairway View.

LuVerne is survived by her daughter, Jan (Glenn) Gauger of Plymouth, MN; son, James (Ardell) Swezey of Peoria, IL; grandchildren: Chad (Gretchen) Gauger of Bangkok, Thailand, Ross (Tracy) Gauger of Little Canada, MN, and Jennifer (Sean) Bullman of Chicago, IL; great-grandchildren: Allison, Anna, Lily, Asher, Luke, Peter, Alethea and Adam; sisters-in-law: Elaine Gerber of Odessa, MN, and Ruth Swezey of Hector, MN; and many other family members and friends.

LuVerne was preceded in death by her husband, Emil Swezey; parents; brothers: Walter (Hazel) Gerber, Alfred (Florence) Gerber, Harold (Nellie) Gerber, and Ray Gerber.

The family of LuVerne thanks all of her extended relatives and friends who came to visit her whenever they were in the Ortonville area. We will miss her nightly prayers for all of us and look forward to the day when we will be reunited in Heaven.