John Lewis Swartz

John Lewis Swartz was born June 8, 1933, to Alpha P. and Edna Mary [Thines] Swartz in his parent’s house. He had two older sisters, Elizabeth and Frances (Fran). After he graduated from Iowa Falls High School in 1951, he went to the University of Iowa, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy in 1956. He married Judith Ann Apland on June 15, 1957, at the St. Mark Catholic Church in Iowa Falls, and they had two children: David and Ann. After graduating from the University of Iowa he returned to Iowa Falls and worked for his father at Swartz Drug. He later became a third generation owner of Swartz Drug in Iowa Falls, which was later known as Medicap Pharmacy, and eventually as Corner Pharmacy. He eventually sold it to his daughter and son-in-law Ann and Rex Ford. During his life he served 12 years on the board of Directors for the Ellsworth Municipal Hospital, was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks (BPOE), Iowa Falls Chamber of Commerce, and he was very active in the development and promotion of the Iowa Falls downtown.  John was an Iowa Falls history enthusiast, which even extended to reenactments during history tours of the local Union Cemetery, where he played his grandfather Jno. L. Swartz (first owner of Swartz Drug and pronounced John!) and Ernest Karrys (owner and candy maker of the Princess Cafe). John also loved trains, bridges, Santa Claus, and came to share his wife's love of the Chicago Cubs.

John Swartz is survived by his wife Judith Swartz of Iowa Falls, Iowa; his daughter Ann [Rex] Ford of Iowa Falls; his son David [Brenda] Swartz of Chicago, Illinois and their two children, Haley and Gavin; and his sister Frances [Bill] Osmundson of Clear Lake, Iowa; his nieces and nephews: Anne, Mike, and Don Sondag and Brad, Bill, and Kurt Osmundson. He was preceded in death by his parents Alpha and Edna Swartz; his sister Elizabeth Sondag and her husband, Don Sondag; and Elizabeth and Don Sondag infant son.

John Lewis Swartz, 82, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, passed away Saturday, January 23, 2016, at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral services will be 10:00 am Saturday, January 30, 2016, at the St. Mark Catholic Church on 415 Main St., Iowa Falls. On Friday, January 29, 2016, friends are welcome from 4:00 to 7:00 pm for fellowship and a time of sharing and a vigil service starting at 7:00pm, at the Linn’s Funeral Home Chapel, 1521 Washington Ave., Iowa Falls. Memorials may be directed to the family: John Swartz Memorial, ℅ Linn’s Funeral Home, 1521 Washington Ave., Iowa Falls, IA 50126.