Margaret Esther Swanson

Margaret Esther Swanson, a 56-year resident of Waverly, loving and beloved wife, and adored mother of two, grandmother of one, passed away Monday, April 19, 2021, of natural causes, aged 87. Margaret was born in Bennington Township, north of Waterloo, Iowa on March 26, 1934. She was the fourth child of six to Mabel E. (Bartels) and Wilhelm O. Mixdorf. She was the last to be born on the farm before the family moved to Waterloo where William worked for John Deere. Raised in Waterloo, Margaret met Glen Swanson on a blind date; both graduated from West High School in Waterloo.

Margaret remembered working as a candy girl at the Strand Theater in downtown Waterloo in her teen years. She was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church and moved with her oldest sister Mary Lou to Omaha, Nebraska to serve the Church. Margaret as the secretary to Dr. C.H. Zeidler, president of the Central States Synod, United Lutheran Church of America, and Mary Lou as a parish administrator at Immanuel Lutheran Church. She also worked for the phone company as a switchboard operator and Rath Packing in Waterloo as a secretary. Her devotion to Glen culminated in their marriage in Waterloo, Iowa on January 14, 1956 while Glen was on leave from active duty in the U.S. Army.

Glen was interested in art and pursued a career in teaching art at grade school level. While on his first assignment in Hampton, Iowa, a family was begun with the birth of son Paul Klee in 1961. The family landed in Waverly in 1965 where daughter Ann was born and Glen became known as the art teacher to grade school students. Margaret soon took a part-time job as a secretary in the office of Wartburg College's president and was sought after for her typing skills. She typed numerous papers and dissertations for students in the community. She was active in the Wartburg Women, baking cakes for student's birthdays, and was active on the board of the Waverly Symphony and its fund raisers.

Margaret was a loving and devoted mother, doting on her children and supporting them through their growing years. Her health-based cooking was a boon to the Swanson family both at home and on picnic outings. Her love and appreciation of nature–especially birds and flowers–melded with family canoe trips and camping at the family log cabin that Glen restored with her support. A cardinal sighting and the beauty of an orchid would bring a warming smile to her face.

She was active at St. Paul's Lutheran church where she enjoyed handbell and senior choir and co-coordinated volunteer activities. She found a partnership with Glen on a creative level by making macramé hangars and accessories that melded with pottery Glen created. One of her trademarks was the hanging planter, a pleasing synergy of Glen's pottery and her jute macramé. Together they showed and sold their works at various Midwest art shows and the Wartburg Homecoming Renaissance faire. She also practiced latch hook rug-making and cross-stitching.

Margaret's strong faith in God and her love helped power her care for Glen after he suffered a stroke in 1984. Glen and Margaret enjoyed traveling when they could, visiting relatives and vacation locales. Margaret was a resident at Bartels Lutheran Home after 2013, where she enjoyed fellowship with longtime friends from the community. She enjoyed decorating her year-round Christmas tree with festoons befitting the seasons and served on the planning committee of the annual Mixdorf family reunion held at Bartels. She enjoyed cards, art projects, and reading books and letters from family and friends.

Her love is never-ending, her empathy ever energetic.

Margaret is survived by one son, Paul of Janesville, Wisconsin; one daughter, Ann of Plainfield; one grandchild, Alyssa also of Plainfield; one brother, Frank Mixdorf; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents; brother Bill Mixdorf; and sisters Ruth White, Mary Lou Blobaum and Marlys Melsted.

"Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven." Matthew 5:11.

Margaret was laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery, Waterloo.

Celebration of Life Service 11:00 AM, Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Katharine Graham Pahl Chapel-Memorial Park Cemetery with visitation preceding at 10:00.

Memorials to Cedar Valley Hospice or St. Paul's Lutheran School in Waverly.