Marie Wirth Swenson

Visitation will be Tue, Dec. 13 at Stevens Memorial Chapel (607 28th St., Ames, IA 50010) from 5-7 pm. On Wed., Dec. 14 at 11 am a mass will be celebrated at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 2900 Hoover, Ames, Ia. The family will also be available an hour before mass. Interment will be at St. Peter & Paul”s Catholic Cemetery, Gilbert Iowa

Marie was born at home on Dec. 2, 1925 to Lawrence and Anna (Elsner) Wirth of rural Story City. The oldest of nine children. Marie attended country school, and graduated from Gilbert High School in 1944.

Marie married Arthur “Ray” Swenson of Radcliffe on June 21, 1956 at St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church of Gilbert. They had two children Leanne and Gary. Before she was married, Marie worked as a teller at Union Story Bank, a checker at many of the Ames grocery stores and even a lunch lady. She retired in 1990 as a bookkeeper at Family Practice Med. Clinic after 17 yrs of service. She and Ray enjoyed their retirement, travelling, fishing, collecting and selling antiques and spending time with family.

Faith and family was important to Marie- -both her immediate family and her church family. Her faith was a daily part of her life. She enjoyed being the oldest of a large family and since they were all near Ames, they were able to spend time together, She enjoyed playing cards (500 a favorite), dancing and listening to polka music, cooking, reading, and her Catholic faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray. Her parents, Lawrence & Anna Wirth, In-Laws Art & Rhina Swenson. Her sister, Rita Bielefeldt, brother, Leonard Wirth. Brothers in law, Bob Zeisneiss, Don Heintz, Don Bielefeldt, Richard Johnson, Alan, Larry and Dale Swenson, sisters-in-law, LaVonne Selene, Chrystella Ohl, Vivian Swenson, Joan Swenson, nephew Kevin Ohl,

Surviving family includes daughter Leanne, son Gary (Jeanne). Sisters: Dorthy Zeisneiss, Louise Johnson, Anna (Derrel) Tressler, Alma Heintz, Marlene (Jim) Michaud, Arnie (Joyce) Wirth. In laws, Marlene Wirth, Darold (Karen) Swenson, Marilyn Swenson, Dorothy (Maurice) Wilcox. Many nieces, nephews, etc.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be addressed to the family, or donated to a charity of your choice