BLAIRSTOWN - Margaret Ellen Swick, age 73, died Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at her residence of a sudden illness.
     A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 AM, Friday, October 26, 2007 at St. John's Catholic Church in Blairstown with Father Jack McClure as Celebrant.  Interment will be held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blairstown.  The visitation will also be held at the church in Blairstown from 4 to 8 PM on Thursday, where a Vigil Service will begin at 7:30 PM.  Phillips Funeral Home in Blairstown is in charge of arrangements.  A memorial fund has been established.
      Margaret was born March 22, 1934 in Parnell, IA to John and Ellen (Lenaghan) Finnegan.  She graduated from Parnell High School.  On May 26, 1956 she married Gordon Swick at St. Michael Catholic Church in Parnell.
      For five years Margaret was employed at Amana Refrigeration and fifteen years as House Keeping Supervisor at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Amana.  Margaret was a member of St. John's Altar & Rosary Society in Blairstown.  Her children and grandchildren were the love of her life.
       She is survived by her three children, Dan (Julie) Swick of Fairfax, Cindy (Gary) Veenstra of Marengo, and Dave (Kristie) Swick of Urbandale; her seven grandchildren, Kiley Swick and fiancé, Josh Hinkle, Ashley Swick, Rhonda Goodman, Sondra Goodman, and Gracie, Anna and Turner Swick.  In addition, she is survived by two sisters, Sister Marie Finnegan of Davenport and Ione Lawrence of Cedar Rapids; two brothers, Vince (Rose) Finnegan of Williamsburg, and Terry Finnegan of Parnell; one sister-in-law, Alice Finnegan of Iowa City and one brother-in-law, "Bud" South of Williamsburg, and many nieces and nephews.
     Margaret was preceded in death by her husband of thirty-eight years, Gordon; her parents, John and Ellen Finnegan; three brothers, John, Leo and Tom; her sister, Mary Kempf, Eileen South and Irene Finnegan; brothers-in-law, Ted Lawrence, and John Kempf; and her mother and father-in-law, Ann and Ivan Swick.