"NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS TO LOSE A WIFE, A MOTHER , RELATIVE OR FRIEND, YOU ARE NOT ALONE .WE ARE THERE EVEN IF ONLY IN SPIRIT. MELVA WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE MY FRIEND. I OFTEN PICTURED HER AND ME SITTING AND JUST VISITING WITH YOU YOUNGSTERS RUNNING AROUND. SHE LOVED AND WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU GUYS. KEN YOU WERE HER LIFETIME LOVE.I REALLY JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT I SHARE YOUR GRIEF AND WILL KEEP YOU IN MY HEART AND PRAYER."
In loving memory of
Melva Swartzendruber
April 26, 1940 - October 2, 2019
Melva J. Swartzendruber, a long-time resident of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, passed away on Wednesday the 2nd of October, 2019 at the Anne and Donald McGraw Center for Caring. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Hazel (Maxey) Vrchoticky and four siblings: Marilyn Nost, Darlene Donovan, Robert Vrchoticky, and Allen Vrchoticky.
Melva was born April 26, 1940 in rural Iowa City, Iowa, 4th of thirteen children. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth, of Jacksonville Beach, Florida; 4 children: Crystal (Alan) Lane of Bryceville, Florida, Kenneth (Terri) Swartzendruber of Frederick, Maryland, Curt (Patricia) Swartzendruber of Canton, Georgia, and Kimberly (Troy) Haltiwanger of Jacksonville, Florida; 12 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and 8 siblings: Joseph Vrchoticky of Iowa City; Iowa, Edwin Vrchoticky of Lake Okeechobee, Florida; Darrell Vrchoticky of Dubuque, Iowa; Sharon Krenz of Tipton, Iowa; Jerry Vrchoticky, Rodney Vrchoticky, Patricia Litton, and Bruce Vrchoticky all of Iowa City, Iowa.
Melva volunteered with many senior groups and enjoyed playing bingo. She was fortunate to be able to travel abroad with her beloved husband learning of different cultures and meeting new people. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were an enormous source of joy. She will be greatly missed.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 19, at the Powell Funeral Home in Wellman, Iowa. Rev. Melissa Warren will officiate. Burial will be in the Wellman Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until service time. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society. The Powell Funeral Home in Wellman is caring for Melva and her family.
Tributes
"So sad that my sister Melva has passed on. She was so strong and it was great that she made it back home to Iowa to see so many family members in August. She will be missed by so many. My heart is sad but her memory will live on in the faces of her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and the love of a great husband as well as the rest of her family and friends. My peace prayers are for all that loved her."