Delbert "Del" Swets

Delbert Swets, 70, of Orange City, IA died unexpectedly Wednesday, 3/30, at the Sioux Center Community Hospital.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, 4/2, at 1:30pm at the Free Grace Reformed Church of Middleburg, with Rev. Stephen Breen officiating. Interment will follow in the Middleburg Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Friday, 4/1, from 2 pm to 8 pm, with the family present from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

The Swets Family prefers memorials be made to the Free Grace Reformed Church.

Delbert was born to John and Johanna (Willemsen) Swets on November 9, 1934. He grew up on the family farm where he was born east of Sioux Center. He attended a country school and later was drafted into the army where he served as a medic from 1957-1958 of which he was very proud. On March 28, 1961 he married Mary De Groot in Sioux Center. They made their home working together on the farm were Del was raised.

Dels life was farming. He enjoyed working on his familys farm from his earliest days and continued to do so even after his father passed away. He instilled his values, pride and work ethic in his family. Del enjoyed spending his leisure time going to his Grandchildrens events as well as watching and attending various sporting events. In earlier years he spent time with family and friends at Round lake camping and water skiing.

Del was a long time member of Middleburg Church. He taught Sunday school, Catechism, and served in various roles in the consistory.

He had planned to continue farming as long as he was able, but a farming accident in 1992 and subsequent health problems, limited him to a lesser role in the last years. The last years Del spent his spare time with friends and neighbors at Kens Repair visiting over coffee.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Mary of 44 years and his five children: Julie and Keith Van Waardhuizen of Oskaloosa IA, Terry Tyke of Orange City, Doug of Blair NE, Paula and Mark Jacobsma of Sioux Center, Cindy and Chad Webb of Cedar Falls IA; two daughters-in-law: Lois Swets of Sioux Center and Christine Swets of Blair NE; along with his 15 grandchildren who brought him great joy, loved him very much, and kept him young at heart. He is also survived by a sister, Joyce Van Es of Russellville AR; a brother and sister-in-law, Marvin and Shar Swets of Hull; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Arnie and Velma Franken of Sioux Center, Roy and Judy Vander Meulen of Sioux Falls, Denny and Carol De Jong of Sheldon, Gladys Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD and Ron and Kathy De Groot of Sioux Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister and brother-in-law, Wilbur Van Es.