Kay Swanson

Kay Swanson, age 78, of Oskaloosa, Iowa passed away Monday, December 10, 2018, peacefully with her daughters by her side at the Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. Nita Kay was born on Saturday, February 10, 1940, in rural Mahaska County, near Fremont, Iowa to Raoul Clarence Eldon and Juanita Alberta (Sarvis) Hawkinson. At the age of 12, Kay was baptized at Lake Keomah State Park in Mahaska County. She graduated from Fremont High School on May 13, 1958, and went on to graduate August 2, 1959, from The American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa. Kay was briefly employed at Mahaska Industries in Oskaloosa Iowa in 1960. On March 15, 1960, she began work at the Mahaska County Auditor’s office under Auditor Mark Olinger and in later years Thomas Allgood and Jane Coffee. In addition to working at the courthouse, Kay worked for her step-father, Ralph Casey, at the Casey Tax Office and H & R Block Income Tax in 1989. June 2, 1992, Kay was elected for the first time as Mahaska County Auditor. She enjoyed working and helping people at the courthouse for 52 years, until her retirement on December 31, 2012. On April 26, 1966, she was united in marriage to Roger O’Neil Swanson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Kay was the member of the Bethel Baptist Church, Altrusa Club, The Center for Independent Living Board and State Finance Committee. She always enjoyed working with numbers and especially enjoyed reading books and knitting. In her later years, Kay enjoyed going to “board meetings” on Sunday evenings at Taso’s Steakhouse with her dear friends, Chuck and Joan La Rue, Rex and Margie McFall, Mearl Minter and Delynn Overturf, Del Bittner, Jimmy and Becky Carter. In retirement, she also enjoyed working on family genealogy. Her family includes her daughters: Cyndee (Patrick) McKenna of Riverside, California, Kimberly (Loren) Hols of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Tasi (Joel) DeJoode of Oskaloosa, Iowa. She is also survived by seven grandsons: Joshua and Justin DeJoode, Cody, Blake, and Andrew Hols, William (Elizabeth) McKenna, and Terry McKenna; one granddaughter, Kaeli Hols; two great-granddaughters: Jessica McKenna and Addison Marie Sarver; her brothers: Max (Beverly) Hawkinson, Patrick (Cherie) Casey, Joe (Joyce) Casey; a sister, Debbie (Scott) Dyer and many nephews and nieces. Kay was preceded in death by her parents; her step-father, Ralph Casey; her husband, Roger; a daughter, Cyndee McKenna; her brothers: Max Hawkinson and Larry Hawkinson, Joe and Joyce Casey; and her sister; Debbie Dyer; grandson, Terry McKenna; great-grandson, Robert Ellis Jr.; and sister-in-law, Beverly Hawkinson. Funeral services for Kay will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 14, 2018, at the Bethel Baptist Church in Oskaloosa with Pastor Steve Cox officiating. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 10 a.m., Thursday, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will greet visitors from 4-6:30 p.m., Thursday evening. Memorials can be made to the Bethel Baptist Church. Memories and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting langkampfuneralchapel.com.

Kay Swanson

February 10, 1940 - December 10, 2018