Elva Ione Swallow

Elva Swallow, 99, was called to her heavenly home Thursday, April 20, 2017. Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 29th at Panther Creek Church of the Brethren near Adel with burial at the Church of the Brethren Cemetery. Family will greet friends Saturday at the church from 10:00 am until services begin. Elva was born January 28, 1918 on the family farm near Adel, Iowa during a blizzard. She graduated from Dallas Center school in 1936. She attended McPherson College and AIB Business School before working at her father’s mill in Dallas Center. June 8, 1941 she married Rolland “Tuffy” Swallow. Elva worked at Inland Mills in Des Moines while Tuffy served in WWII. Upon his return from service, they began farming on the Reiste farm, remaining there for 62 years before moving to Spurgeon Manor and then Bickford in Urbandale November, 2016. Elva was active in church serving in Ladies Aid, teaching SS classes, while demonstrating labors of love through sewing, making quilts, canning food from her garden, cake decorating, and crocheting caps and hot pads. Those left to honor her memory are her children; John (Renee) Swallow and Linda (Vic) Mitchell; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and many extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Tuffy; infant daughter, Marla Jane; one granddaughter, Marjorie Louise and three sisters. Memorial contributions may be directed to Panther Creek Church or Heifer Project. Online condolences may be left on this site.