Mary Jane “Janie” Swihart, 72, of Quinter, KS, passed away on February 24, 2022, after a long journey with ovarian cancer. She was born to Kyle and Mary (Light)Reed in Des Moines, IA on February 24, 1950, and was the oldest of 6 children. She grew up on a farm near Minburn, IA.
One week after graduating Iowa Lutheran’s R.N. training, Mary Jane became the first Director of Nursing at Spurgeon Manor, a new nursing home in Dallas Center, IA. One of her first residents was the mother of a state inspector!
From there, she spent a year working at the mission clinic at Torreon Navajo Mission, Cuba, NM. This is where she met and married the love of her life, Roger Swihart. They were married July 21, 1973, with Navajos as attendants. They moved to Quinter, KS where she worked 40 years at Gove County MedicalCenter. She was a fixture at the nursing home, having started the restorative program, and working for years keeping the medical records (and doctors) in order.
Mary Jane enjoyed teaching Sunday School and VBS at the Dunkard BrethrenChurch. She was well-respected for her charity project, Bundles of Love. This perpetual garage sale raised money to warm cold children in Romania and other cold countries for over 18 years. Mary Jane credited the success to all of her volunteers, those that made donations, and the many shoppers. She truly modeled a servant’s heart and wanted no glory for herself. Her glory awaits her in heaven, where she will rejoin her parents, her infant brother, Bruce Edward, and her granddaughter, Elizabeth Wertz.
She is survived by her loving husband, Roger, and three children, Ricki (Todd) Wertz, Quinter, KS, Janet (Chad) Sparks, Two Buttes, CO, and Lee (Danae) Swihart, Bernville, PA. Her legacy lives on in her grandchildren, Kimberly and Autumn Wertz, David (Sarah) Fleener, Katie (Chance) VanCampen, Lisa (Shane) Edgecomb, Ryan Fleener, Clayton Sparks, and Kylee, Landon, Kiptyn and Mavalech Swihart, along with several great grandchildren.
Her surviving siblings are Doris (Phil) Hemphill, McClave, CO, Margaret (Earl) Ratcliff, New Sharon, IA, Myrna (Joe) Palmer, Sapulpa, OK, Howard (Peggy) Reed, Inola, OK, and Dorothy (Mark) Harsen, Springfield, MO.
Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 PM on Sunday, February 27, 2022, at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, February 28, 2022, at Church of the Brethren in Quinter.
Mary Jane left us with this message: It is not how many cold children you warm in this world that’s the most important thing in life. The most important thing you can do in life is to accept Jesus as your personal Savior! Salvation is a FREE GIFT! Life here is short. Eternity is forever! Interment will follow at the Baker Township Cemetery. Help us honor Mary Jane’s legacy by bringing new or used stocking hats, gloves or scarves in lieu of flowers. Mary Jane was comforted by the thought of one more opportunity to provide warmth to cold children. Donations to the Gideons for Bible purchases are also welcome.