Donald Wesley Swender
1944 - 2021
Donald Wesley Swender's spirit left his
body on April 28, 2021, after a long, hard struggle with Alzheimer's
disease. Don was born to Lois and Lowell Swender in Strong City, KS
on January 7, 1944. They proceeded him in death. Thanks to the
support and care of Good Shepherd Hospice, Don was able to remain in
his home and die surrounded by family, as he had hoped. The Good News
is that nothing, not even death, can separate Don from the love of
God.
Don's education included grade school
and junior high in Strong City, high school in Valley Center, KS,
college at Emporia State University, graduate school at Kent State
University in Kent, Ohio, and St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas
City, MO. His teaching career began at Rosedale High School in Kansas
City, KS (speech, English, and debate.) He was debate coach at
Andover High School, teaching assistant at Kent State University,
debate coach at Mt. Union University in Alliance, OH, and Wichita
State University. After retirement, he taught speech for Hutchinson
Community College.
Don was an ordained elder in the United
Methodist Church and served Kansas churches in El Dorado (First
United Methodist), Harper, Andover, Newton (Trinity Heights),
Argonia, and after retirement, at Newton First United Methodist and
Moundridge UMC.
For 10 years during his midlife, he
suffered with Anorexia Nervosa. He was successfully treated by Dr.
Kermit Schmidt and the Menninger Foundation.
Community activities included Lions
Clubs, Peace Connections, and judging debate and forensics for the
KSHSAA. He enjoyed being a host father for 5 foreign exchange
students with International Christian Youth Exchange-Ana Lena
(Sweden), Regina (Germany), Carole (Switzerland), Gabriella (Italy),
and Tarja (Finland).
Don loved music-especially Christmas
music. He enjoyed playing the piano, organ, hammer dulcimer,
handbells; singing in the choir; and attending musical
performances-especially of his grandchildren. He loved ice cream and
walking for exercise. He was a KU basketball fan. His favorite place
was Madeline Island in Lake Superior in Wisconsin.
Don dearly loved his family. He was a
much loved son, brother, nephew, cousin, husband, father,
grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. He is survived by his
wife of 55 years Sue (Stauffer); daughter Sharilyn Thiessen (Jim);
grandsons Dallas Thiessen and Josiah Thiessen; granddaughter Sierra
Jones; great grandson Alistair Jones; sisters Connie Braun and Rita
Johnson (Ed); brother Richard Swender (Terry), and cats Hermione and
Bigfoot.
Memorials have been established with
Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, 1200 Boyd Avenue, Newton, KS
67114 and Pass the Torch, KS Area United Methodist Foundation, Box
605, Hutchinson, KS 67504. Celebration of Life service will be
Saturday May 15, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Heights United
Methodist Church, 1200 Boyd Avenue, Newton, KS.
Published in The Kansan on May 13, 2021
