Adeline I. Swella

Adeline I. Swella, age 83, of Decorah, died Wednesday evening, September 4, 2013 at Barthell O.E.S. Home in Decorah. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, September 8, 2013 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. David Sorensen and Rev. Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation will begin at 1:00 P.M. Sunday, one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church. Adeline Irene (Pfister) Swella was born July 15, 1930 at home in rural Clayton County, Iowa, the only child of Fredrick W. and Olga (Baker) Pfister. She was baptized at East Clermont Lutheran Church and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Iowa. She graduated from Postville High School. Adeline attended and graduated from Business College in Davenport, Iowa. While there, she met Eugene Swella at Fisher’s Grill on Brady Street. Eugene was attending Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, a couple of blocks away from the coffee shop and from her college. Adeline was united in marriage to Dr. Eugene J. Swella on June 9, 1955 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Davenport. This union was blessed with four children: Eugene, Rebecca, Jacqueline and Jeffrey. She was a stay at home mom for many years in Decorah, where they raised their family and Eugene had the Swella Chiropractic Clinic. She later went to work as a receptionist at the clinic. Adeline was a very active member of Decorah Lutheran Church; she loved teaching Sunday School for many years, was chairperson of the Nordic Fest Dinner for over 25 years, was very involved in D.L.C. Women, Circle and Bible Study. She also enjoyed playing bridge, golfing and loved to cook. In 1994, after Eugene’s retirement, they wintered in St. Petersburg, FL and enjoyed summers in Decorah. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Eugene on March 24, 2002; one son, Jeffrey J. Swella, D.C. on October 30, 2004; two grandsons, Matthew James Swella and Myles Joseph Swella; and one granddaughter, Marissa Joy Swella. Adeline is survived by one son, Dr. Eugene J. (Dr. Dianne) Swella, Jr. of Yucca Valley, CA.; two daughters, Dr. Rebecca (Robert) Smedsrud of Decorah, IA and Jacqueline (David) Kinsinger of Buffalo, IA; six grandchildren: Rachael Swella Smedsrud (Shane) McMahon, Meghan Swella (Fiancé Nicholas Norton), Mariya Swella, Robert Smedsrud, Eric Smedsrud and Victoria Jade Swella; and by a great-granddaughter, Caitlin Jo McMahon.