Pamela Joy (Swift) Bandow

Pamela Joy Bandow, 63 of Iowa City and formerly of Iowa Falls, Iowa, passed away Sunday, August 8, 2021, at Bickford Senior Living Center in Iowa City. Funeral Services for Pamela Joy Bandow will be 1:00 pm Wednesday, August 11th at the Moose Lodge, 11350 Highway 65, Iowa Falls. In lue of flowers memorials may be sent to apraxia-kids.org or mailed to Apraxia Kids, 1501 Reedsdale Street Suite 202, Pittsburg, PA 15233 or MidwestBoxerRescue.com .

Pamela Joy Bandow was born October 8, 1957, to Roger Lewis and Gladys (Tootie) Mae Ites Swift at Ellsworth Hospital in Iowa Falls. Pamela attended the Iowa Falls Schools graduating with the class of 1976. Pamela was married  to Russ Bandow April 17, 1977 and to that union two children were born: Benjamin and Allison.

Pamela was a homemaker and later worked as a retail clerk and also worked for Iowa Falls Tractor Parts retiring in 2005. She was a member of the Methodist Church. She belonged to the Moose Lodge of Iowa Falls.

Pamela is survived by her parents Roger and Gladys Swift of Iowa Falls; a son Benjamin (Ashley) Bandow of Ralston, Nebraska; Allison (Thomas) Nixon of Iowa City; a brother Steven Swift of Little Elm, Texas; nine grandchildren.

Pamela was preceded in death by her grandparents.

Pam was one of those rare people who can honestly be described as having “never met a stranger.” She’d talk to absolutely anyone and even if it meant staying at Wal-Mart or the thrift shop half an hour longer than you expected, she’d be walking out of there with groceries and a new friend- because she was nice to everyone she met.

Her smile was infectious and could brighten any room she was in. She was known to toss back a beer or two in her day and loved good tunes, a good time and a good drive with the wind in her hair. She loved karaoke with her daughter and paintball with her son. She treasured the friendships she made in high school, many of which have lasted a lifetime.

Above all, she was a loyal friend.

When she was first diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension, life expectancy for the disease was a few short years. The fact that was more than fifteen years ago speaks volumes to her ability to be strong willed and stubborn in the face of overwhelming odds.  

She was never shy about sharing her opinions with her children and was somewhat taken aback by the sheer number of grandchildren they ended up giving her. But she loved all nine of them fiercely and was proud to be their Grammie. Watching them grow up was one of her greatest joys of these last few years.

A devoted connoisseur of potato salad, Wal Mart’s Amish Potato Salad or Fareway’s Old Fashioned were her favorites. She liked Regular Coke with enough ice to frost the outside of the glass. She loved taco pizza and a tall glass of beer. 

She loved family gatherings and the meal planning process for Thanksgiving would usually begin in late July and despite all that pre-planning, she always had to make sure everyone was seated and settled first- making her the last one to sit down and start eating at every holiday gathering.

She will be missed more than words can express, but always be a joy to remember.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.