Mary Swanke

It is with great sadness that the family of Mary Anne Swanke, announces her passing on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, after a nine month battle with pancreatic cancer. Mary was 60 years old and passed peacefully at Sacred Heart Hospital in the presence of her family.

She was born August 2, 1950 in Eau Claire to Margaret (Soden) and Donald Meindel. She graduated from North High School in Eau Claire in 1968. She worked for Cray Research/SGI for 34 years, making many dear friends. She retired in November 2010 due to her illness.

She married Scott Swanke on July 12, 1970 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. Scott was her true soul mate and best friend. Together, they had three wonderful daughters.

Mary had many interests including fishing on the Chetek chain of lakes, where in 1999, she caught two $500 tagged fish in the annual Fish-O-Rama, a feat that has never been duplicated. She also loved vegetable gardening, snorkeling, traveling to the islands of Hawaii, and going out to dinner with her many friends. In addition to visiting their daughter and son-in-law in Hawaii, she and Scott had almost yearly vacations to the Caribbean; many of such trips were with close friends.

A big part of Mary's life was her grandchildren. She loved spending time with them and enjoyed playing card games with them, which they will miss dearly.

Survivors include: her husband, Scott of Lake Hallie; three daughters, Stacy (Richard) King of Honolulu, Hawaii, Anne Swanke of Eau Claire, Melissa (Branden) Harings of Lake Hallie; two sisters, Victoria (Walter) Halida, Kristine (Benjamin) Hawke, all of Chippewa Falls; and four grandchildren, Emily, Ariana, Gunnar and Mattie Jo.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, Donald and Margaret Meindel; and her brother, Steven Meindel.

A funeral service will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, June 20 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls with the Rev. Rick Hoyme of Central Lutheran Church, officiating. A private interment will be in Prairie View Cemetery, village of Lake Hallie.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. until the time of service at 7 p.m., Monday at the funeral chapel.

Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls is serving the Swanke family.

Visit pedersonvolker.com to express online condolences.


Afterservice

A funeral service for Mary Anne Swanke, 60, of Chippewa Falls, village of Lake Hallie was held at 7 p.m., Monday, June 20 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls. Rev. Rick Hoyme of Central Lutheran Church officiated and personal reflections were given by granddaughter, Ariana.

Interment was in Prairie View Cemetery, village of Lake Hallie.

Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls is serving the Swanke family.