Sweet, Ethel Irene

Ethel Irene Sweet, 82, of Shellsburg, died Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids following a brief illness after an extended life of happiness and friends. Funeral services for Ethel will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, at Oak Grove Church near Shellsburg, with Pastor Larry Rodgers officiating. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Shellsburg. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Phillips Family Center, 605 Second Ave., Vinton.

Ethel Irene Bruce was born May 10, 1929, to Willis and Hazel Van Dyke Bruce at Douglas, Neb. Ethel attended school in Shellsburg and graduated from Shellsburg High School. On Dec. 28, 1946, Ethel was united in marriage to Dorrence F. “Dick” Sweet. “Dick” preceded Ethel in death on May 23, 2004.

Ethel work for many years as a secretary at Etna Life Insurance. She was a longtime member of Oak Grove Church and an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan.

She is survived by her three sons, Terry (Linda) Sweet and Barry (Donna) Sweet, both of Cedar Rapids, and Randy (Debra) Sweet of Alburnett; her seven grandchildren; her 11 great-grandchildren; her two brothers, David (Bev) Bruce of Florida and Walter (Martha) Bruce of Shellsburg; and her two sisters, Mary Michels of Central City and Nancy (Bill) Seely of Shellsburg.

In addition to her husband, Ethel was preceded in death by her parents.

A memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at

Published Nov. 21, 2011, in The Gazette