Marion A. Swift, age 85, of Washington, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the University of Iowa Hospital following complications of lung disease.

Celebration of life services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 22, 2012 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington with Pastor Colton Clay officiating. Visitation will begin noon Friday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 Friday evening. Interment with military honors conducted by Washington American Legion Post 29 will take place at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials have been established for Pleasant Hill Christian Church or Washington County All Veterans Memorial Group. Online condolences may be sent for Marion's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com

Marion A. Swift was born January 15, 1927 in Washington County the son of William Earl "Bryan" and Ethel Leota (Caldwell) Swift. He was united in marriage to Georgia JoAnn Chalupa on December 26, 1952 at the Christian Church in Burlington, Iowa.

He graduated from Washington High School. At the age of 18, he served his country in the United States Army at the end of World War II as a medic stationed in Berlin, Germany. Following his military service, he worked as a mechanic at the John Deere store in Washington, Iowa for three years and then became a farmer. He worked the land and raised livestock until his retirement in 1989.

Marion was a member of the Pleasant Hill Christian Church. He enjoyed coin and rock collecting and had a hidden talent of being a craftsman.

Surviving are his wife of 59 years, JoAnn Swift of Washington, Iowa; daughters, Dr. Susan Swift of Waterloo, Iowa; Gina Swift and partner Jennifer Carns of Iowa City, Iowa; son-in-law, Harry Suszko of Marion, Iowa; two brothers, Lawerence Swift and wife Gertrude of Washington, Iowa; Bill Swift and wife Bonnie of Washington, Iowa; four sisters, Wanda Fritz of Washington, Iowa; Edith Wellington of Washington, Iowa; Martha Hawkins and husband Dale of Arizona; Annette Chalupa and husband Doug of Washington, Iowa; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Brenda Suszko, three brothers: Bernard, George, and Charles "Chick", and three sisters: Esther Houseal, Doris Sojka and Jean Fritz.