Eleanore Ann Swigart, a pastor’s wife, died December 24. She was 84.
Ellie attended Baptist Bible College, Johnson City, New York, preparing to be a teacher. While in college, she met Earl Swigart of Iowa, who was studying for pastoral ministry. Eleanore and Earl were united in marriage on August 28, 1959, with the Bible motto, “We are laborers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9).
Ellie was a faithful partner in church ministry for 62 years in Iowa and Wisconsin.
The Swigarts’ ministry started in Norwalk, Iowa, where they established a church. After Norwalk, they served at Faith Baptist Church, Fort Dodge, Iowa; returned to Norwalk; spent seven years at Calvary Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant, Iowa; then served at Berea Baptist Church, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, from 1990 until their retirement in 2009.
In each of these churches Ellie was a counselor and mentor to many and a pianist or an organist.
Ellie was preceded in death by a grandson, Brandon Swigart, and a granddaughter, Madison Shaw.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Earl; her children, Alan, Robert, Kathi Shaw, and Marci Kadlec; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
