Oswald, Loraine Bertha

Loraine Bertha Oswald, 85, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010, at The Woodlands/The Meth-Wick Community, and entered into the joyful surprise of heaven. Services 11 a.m. Saturday at St. James United Methodist Church, by the Rev. Beth Straw and the Rev. Dr. Robert Burkhart. Private entombment: Linwood Cemetery Mausoleum. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. today at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel.

Loraine was born Aug. 4, 1924, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Thomas Marion and Mable Jane Jones. She attended Cedar Rapids schools, was a graduate of Roosevelt Senior High School and active in music and scholastic organizations. She was an accomplished pianist and accompanist for many instrumentalists and played bassoon in the school orchestra. She attended Cornell College and during World War II worked for the Kaiser Shipbuilding Co. in Portland, Ore.

On June 20, 1948, she married Rollin G. Oswald, a high school classmate and Marine/Navy veteran enrolled in theological seminary. Loraine and her husband served United Methodist churches in St. Ansgar and Little Cedar, Grandview Avenue in Dubuque, Mount Vernon, Iowa Falls, West Des Moines, and as superintendent of the Cedar Rapids district. After retirement in 1988, they continued ministry in associate staff relationships and as chaplain at The Meth-Wick Community.

For over 60 years, Loraine was a dedicated and gifted volunteer worker in education, music, and pastoral care in many churches and communities. She accompanied many student musicians in state instrumental competition and provided piano and organ music for countless weddings, funerals, and community occasions. Loraine was a member of PEO, Chapter IH.

She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Dr. Rollin G. Oswald of Marion; two sons, Mark Gordon (Jo) of Londonderry, N.H., and Peter Thomas (Maureen) of Carlinville, Ill.; two daughters, Deborah Jones Tierney (Ed) of Indianola, Iowa, and Rebekah Ann Lane (Robert) of Indianola, Iowa; a brother, Thomas Marion Jones Jr. (Joyce) of Fair Grove, Mo.; 12 grandchildren, Anne Dysinger (Mark), Elizabeth Pinnell (Alex), and Amanda Oswald; Jessica Oswald, Peter Oswald II, Samuel Oswald, Jacob Steward, and Jill Steward; Kate Tierney and Patrick Tierney; Allison Lane and Ryan Lane; and two great-grandchildren, Olivia and Benjamin Pinnell.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Patricia Ann Jones; her parents, Thomas and Mable Jones, and parents-in-law, Gordon and Myrtle Oswald; a sister-in-law, Doris West; and a brother-in-law, Gene Oswald.

Friends may leave a message for the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Memorial gifts may be given to St. James United Methodist Church or The Meth-Wick Community.