Daisy Mary Swanson

Daisy Mary Swanson, age 87, of Nevada, passed away peacefully on March 11, 2026, surrounded by her family at Story Medical Senior Care in Nevada.

Born in rural Jasper County, Iowa, to Frank Avery and Rose (Neal) Maxwell, Daisy grew up with strong small-town values of faith, hard work, and care for others. She graduated from Collins High School in 1957 and, just days later, married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Paul Swanson, on June 1 at the Collins United Methodist Church. Their marriage became a remarkable 68-year partnership built on love, faith, and steadfast support through every season of life.

Daisy worked for many years at City Electric in Ames, where she formed lasting friendships, and later at K-Mart in Ames, enjoying the simple pleasure of connecting with people each day. Deeply involved in Central Presbyterian Church in Nevada and a proud member of Eastern Star, she found meaning in faith, fellowship, and service. At home, she took joy in tending her yard, restoring old furniture with patience and creativity, and most of all, in her family.

Above everything, Daisy cherished her role as grandmother. She delighted in cheering on her grandchildren, celebrating their milestones, and being present for the moments that mattered. As her family grew to include great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, her love continued to expand. She remained a steady source of strength and kindness even through sorrow, including the loss of her daughter, Debbi Lynn Swanson.

Daisy is survived by her husband of 68 years, Bob, of Nevada; her son, Joel and wife Sue Swanson of Kelley, Iowa; her daughter, Terry and husband Gerald Milham of Green River, Wyoming; her grandchildren, Andrew (Allison) Swanson, Beth (Eric) Hendrickson, Heather (Chuck) Schadt, Erica Spaid, and Charlee Marie Spaid; her great-grandchildren, Kolton (Laney) Deaton, Karlie Hendrickson, James Angelo, Hallee, Heavann, and Camden Schadt, Lucas and Connor McDonough, and Zander and Kennadee Stewart; her great-great-grandchildren, Willow and Blakely McNeeley; and her sisters, Carey Ann and Olin Maxwell-Zartman of Texas, Carol (Carl) Hedges of Maryland, and Patricia (Chuck) Lundquist of Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Debbi Lynn Swanson, her brother Ronald Avery Maxwell, and her sisters Francis (Kenneth) Smith and Margaret (Ronnie) Stratton.