MARGARET A. SWERCZEK

Margaret A. Swerczek, the daughter of Victor and Ruth (Williams) Zuerlein was born on October 31, 1924 at Cedar Rapids, NE. She attended elementary school in Primrose and graduated from Cedar Rapids High School.

On April 7, 1942, Margaret was united in marriage to Edward J. Swerczek at St. Edward, Nebraska. They lived and farmed north of Cedar Rapdis. Edward died on May 11, 1974. Margaret then moved into town. The family owned and operated the Cedar Café for about 30 years. In 1999 Margaret retired. She will be forever remembered for her wonderful cooking and service she shared with the Cedar Rapids community, and for her family of musicians who warm the hearts of all who have heard them sing together.

She was a member of the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids and the Altar Society.

On Thursday, March 2, 2006, Margaret passed away peacefully at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk at 81 years of age.

She leaves her legacy of 15 children; 9 sons: Donald and wife Mary of Omaha; Victor of Altoona, IA; Charles and wife Diane of Lincoln, NE; Anthony and wife Christine of Papillion, NE; Lawrence and wife Lori of Albion, NE; Edwin and wife Monica of Cedar Rapids, NE; Joseph and wife Kay of Belgrade, NE; John of Cedar Rapids, NE; Lee Alan and wife Daisy of Hanahan, SC; 6 daughters: Catherine Longacre of Omaha; Gladys Choyeski of Cedar Rapdis; Margaret “Maggie” Knight of Fountain, CO; A.J. “Jean” Molt of York, NE; Teresa Pasonault and husband Bob of Columbus, NE; Monica Kavanaugh and husband Vince of Dakota City, NE; 29 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 1 brother, Robert “Zip” Zuerlein and wife Peg of Kearney, NE; 2 sisters: Betty Wilhelm of Eagle, NE; Geraldine Scanlon of Marion, IA; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Dickie, daughter Mary Swerczek in 2002; and 1 brother Gilbert Zuerlein.

FUNERAL SERVICES: 10:00 a.m. DAY: Monday, March 6, 2006 CHURCH: St. Anthony’s Catholic Church TOWN: Cedar Rapids, Nebraska MINISTER: Fr. Ralph Steffensmeier CEMETERY: Parish Cemetery VISITATION: Sunday from 3-7 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. Wake Service all at church. Visitation will resume on Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the Levander Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids.

(additional: Margaret is mother of Joseph Swerczek. Joe is married to Kay Lynn Ahlers, child of Onno Frederick and Dorothy Mae (Hurd) Ahlers. Dorothy is child of Herbert Orvin and Cora Nelsena (Jacobson) Hurd. Cora is Ola Jacobson’s fifth child.)

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

FindaGrave memorial # 13511268