1927
Irena
2015
Irena Swartz
February 17, 1927 — April 15, 2015
Former Weskan, Kansas resident Irena Swartz, 88, died Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at Lemay Avenue Health & Rehabilitation Facility in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Elizabeth Irena was born February 17, 1927, at Ransom, Kansas, the daughter of Elizabeth Mae (Petty) and Cecil Guy Zordel. She attended Ransom Public Schools, but graduated from Weskan High School, and subsequently furthered her education in business college.
On May 20, 1945, she and Dale Edward Goodwin were married at Weskan, and they started their life together in Wallace County. In 1951 Dale found work, first in Burlingame, California, and then in Aurora, Colorado in 1952. To the young couple were born Dalena Lee Goodwin in 1948, Timothy Glen Goodwin in 1949, and Elizabeth Marlene Goodwin in 1952. During their many years in Aurora, Irena worked as an accountant for the University of Colorado Health Services Center. She was also a member and Deaconess of Aurora Community Baptist Church. Irena and Dale then divorced in 1982.
On September 29, 1984, Irena and Ernest Lawrence Swartz were married, and they built their new home in Weskan where she reaffirmed her ties to the Weskan Baptist Church. Irena gladly assumed the role of stepmother to Colleen Lynn and Lucinda Rae, who were still in primary school. Then in January 2009, Ernest preceded her in death. Irena’s hobbies included Bible study, gardening, crocheting, quilting, embroidery, woodworking, local sports events, and especially parenting.
In the summer of 2014 Irena moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to be close to her daughters and this is where she peacefully passed away.
In addition to her second husband Ernie Swartz’ death, other family members preceding her in death were: siblings Cecil Paul, Anna Nora, Juanita Louise, Charles Thomas, Sr., Jonnie, Francis Floyd Murrel, Darline Ethel, Vernon Ray, and Darrel Dee; and step-daughter Dana Ann Swartz.
Surviving family includes her children Timothy Goodwin, Dalena Watson and her husband John, Marlene Shipley and her husband Martin; step-children Lawrence Edward “Larry” Swartz, Colleen Lynn Ziegelmeier, and Lucinda Rae Swartz; grandchildren Nathan Anthony Watson and Jeffry Darrel Watson; step-grandchildren Brian Lee Ziegelmeier and Kyle Wayne Ziegelmeier; great-grandchildren Courtney Dawn Compton, Anthony James Smith, Nathan Anthony Watson II, Hanna Marie Walker, Jeff Dale Watson, and Jesse Robert Watson; great-great-grandchildren Totyanna Compton and Cyreanna Compton; siblings Rosaline Ellen Nesler (Zordel), Herbert Dale Zordel, and Marrel Guy Zordel.
Like many her age, Irena was tempered by the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression and the Second World War making her a standing member of The Greatest Generation.
The funeral will be on Saturday, April 18, at 10:00 AM MT, at the Weskan Bible Church, with Pastor Tim Cress officiating. Friends may share their respects one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be on Tuesday, April 21, at 10:00 AM CT, at the Ransom Cemetery in Ransom, Kansas, with Pastor Richard Van Winkle officiating.
Memorials may be designated to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are entrusted to Koons Funeral Home, 211 N. Main, Goodland, KS 67735-1555.
Online condolences: www.koonsfuneralhome.com
Elizabeth Irena was born February 17, 1927, at Ransom, Kansas, the daughter of Elizabeth Mae (Petty) and Cecil Guy Zordel. She attended Ransom Public Schools, but graduated from Weskan High School, and subsequently furthered her education in business college.
On May 20, 1945, she and Dale Edward Goodwin were married at Weskan, and they started their life together in Wallace County. In 1951 Dale found work, first in Burlingame, California, and then in Aurora, Colorado in 1952. To the young couple were born Dalena Lee Goodwin in 1948, Timothy Glen Goodwin in 1949, and Elizabeth Marlene Goodwin in 1952. During their many years in Aurora, Irena worked as an accountant for the University of Colorado Health Services Center. She was also a member and Deaconess of Aurora Community Baptist Church. Irena and Dale then divorced in 1982.
On September 29, 1984, Irena and Ernest Lawrence Swartz were married, and they built their new home in Weskan where she reaffirmed her ties to the Weskan Baptist Church. Irena gladly assumed the role of stepmother to Colleen Lynn and Lucinda Rae, who were still in primary school. Then in January 2009, Ernest preceded her in death. Irena’s hobbies included Bible study, gardening, crocheting, quilting, embroidery, woodworking, local sports events, and especially parenting.
In the summer of 2014 Irena moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to be close to her daughters and this is where she peacefully passed away.
In addition to her second husband Ernie Swartz’ death, other family members preceding her in death were: siblings Cecil Paul, Anna Nora, Juanita Louise, Charles Thomas, Sr., Jonnie, Francis Floyd Murrel, Darline Ethel, Vernon Ray, and Darrel Dee; and step-daughter Dana Ann Swartz.
Surviving family includes her children Timothy Goodwin, Dalena Watson and her husband John, Marlene Shipley and her husband Martin; step-children Lawrence Edward “Larry” Swartz, Colleen Lynn Ziegelmeier, and Lucinda Rae Swartz; grandchildren Nathan Anthony Watson and Jeffry Darrel Watson; step-grandchildren Brian Lee Ziegelmeier and Kyle Wayne Ziegelmeier; great-grandchildren Courtney Dawn Compton, Anthony James Smith, Nathan Anthony Watson II, Hanna Marie Walker, Jeff Dale Watson, and Jesse Robert Watson; great-great-grandchildren Totyanna Compton and Cyreanna Compton; siblings Rosaline Ellen Nesler (Zordel), Herbert Dale Zordel, and Marrel Guy Zordel.
Like many her age, Irena was tempered by the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression and the Second World War making her a standing member of The Greatest Generation.
The funeral will be on Saturday, April 18, at 10:00 AM MT, at the Weskan Bible Church, with Pastor Tim Cress officiating. Friends may share their respects one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be on Tuesday, April 21, at 10:00 AM CT, at the Ransom Cemetery in Ransom, Kansas, with Pastor Richard Van Winkle officiating.
Memorials may be designated to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are entrusted to Koons Funeral Home, 211 N. Main, Goodland, KS 67735-1555.
Online condolences: www.koonsfuneralhome.com
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