Shirley Swoyer, 96, of Greenfield

Funeral Services: Will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at the Greenfield United Methodist Church with burial following in the Greenfield Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church following the burial. Pastor Melinda Stonebraker will officiate the service. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com. 

Open Visitation: Will be held at the Greenfield United Methodist Church on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Greenfield United Methodist Church. 

Memorials: In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Shirley Swoyer Memorial Fund for the betterment of the Greenfield Community. 

Shirley Elladine Swoyer, born on November 10, 1928, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2025, at the age of 96. She was in her home in Greenfield, Iowa, with her phone in hand.

Raised in Mallard, Iowa, Shirley pursued her passion for nursing after graduating high school by attending the Iowa Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated in 1949 as a Registered Nurse and began her career at Greenfield Hospital when it opened in 1950. A natural born caregiver, Shirley dedicated her life to nursing and supporting those around her.

On August 27, 1950, Shirley married Dean Swoyer at Greenfield United Methodist Church. Their marriage spanned 52 years, during which they resided on their farm in Greenfield and raised four children: Tom, Don, Randy, and Sandy.

Shirley’s compassion extended beyond her profession, as she provided unwavering support to her family, friends, and the Greenfield community. As the eldest of seven siblings, she was a born leader who instilled strength, confidence, and independence in her family.

Shirley enjoyed playing bridge, watching sports, shopping, and of course, trips to the casino. Above all, she cherished time spent with her family and friends, who spanned many generations. Shirley was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her eight grandchildren—Nathan, Zachary, Kelly, Alexandria, Brett, Jillian, Matthew, and Jacob—and eight great-grandchildren—Hadley, Reese, Dean, Reid, Eloise, Ryann, Ivy, and Fiona.

A friend once said that Shirley’s smile was contagious, and her home was always open and welcoming, treating everyone as family. Shirley was preceded in death by her gentle giant of a husband, Dean, her eldest son Tom, brothers Willard and Eldon Fain, and her Aunt Alice Wildman. She is survived by her children: Don Swoyer and his wife Vicki of Fulshear, Texas; Randy Swoyer and his wife Margie of Dallas, Texas; Sandy Bredensteiner and her husband Scott of Pflugerville, Texas; and daughter-in-law Jean Shugart and her husband Jeff of Johnston, Iowa. She is also survived by her three brothers: Gerald Fain of Waterloo, Iowa, Larry Fain of New Hampton, Iowa, and Willie Fain of Nevada, Iowa, and her sister Camilla Glidewell of Waterloo, Iowa, along with many other family members and friends.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to everyone in the Greenfield community, who have been an invaluable support to Shirley in her later years by dropping off food, offering rides, calling to chat, playing cards, and always being there for her.