Swisher, Charles Harold

Charles Harold Swisher passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 23, 2011.

Charles was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on Aug. 22, 1928, to Jacob and Nora (Anthony) Swisher. Charles was raised by his oldest sister, Dorothea, for most of his early childhood due to his mother's poor health. Charles attended Longfellow Elementary, Central Junior High, City High School, and the University of Iowa. He and his best friend Bill Gilpin belonged to the Iowa City Moose Drum and Bugle Corps, traveling all around the Midwest.

In 1946, he enlisted in the Army serving as a topographer in the Philippines remapping additional islands.

He met the love of his life, Jeanne Dawson, in 1950 and they were married on March 21, 1951, in Columbus Junction, Iowa. After training at Mautz Paint Co. in Madison, Wis., he opened up Swisher Paint and Wallpaper in Burlington, Iowa in 1953. In 1960, they closed the store and moved to Iowa City, where he worked for Darling and Co. Real Estate until 1963, when he began work at the University of Iowa Data Processing Department until his retirement in August 1990.

Charles and Jeanne enjoyed their retirement, spending their winters in Venice, Fla., along with several siblings and close friends.

Charles was a proud member of First United Methodist Church (the church he grew up in) and served as chairman of the board of trustees and the building committee during the church's renovation. Charles served on the board of directors of the J.A. Swisher Foundation. He was an avid Hawkeye fan, proud alumnus of City High School, and with his wife, was a docent at the Hoover Library.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanne; four children, Diane (Jim) Denneny, Debbie (Bill) Thoman, Doug Swisher and Doreen (Bruce) Gudlin; 10 grandchildren, Eric (Shilpa) Denneny, David Denneny, Michelle Denneny, Susan Thoman, Steven Thoman, Tim Thoman, Kelvin Bell, Scott Bell, Shawn Gudlin and Shannon Gudlin; one great-granddaughter, Amiya Denneny; sisters, Helen Kummings and Esther Preslar; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Nora Swisher; stepmother, Blanche Swisher; and his siblings, Dorothea McGinnis, Fern Becker, Lois Duncan and William Swisher.

Visitation services will be held Sunday, Sept. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City and from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with burial to follow at Oakland Cemetery.

Charles' family is extraordinarily grateful to Dr. Scott Eberly and the wonderful staff at Legacy Gardens, Iowa Hospice, and Mercy Hospital Hospice for their caring hearts and hands in his final months.

Memorial donations may be directed to First United Methodist Church in Iowa City or Mercy Hospital Hospice.

Online condolences may be directed to

Published Sept. 24, 2011, in The Gazette