Edward "Hook" Swailes

Edward "Hook" Swailes, 79 of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at the Henry County Health Center. Visitation will begin after 12:00 noon on Thursday, June 17th at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening. Funeral services will be held Friday at 10:00 a.m. at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Joseph Phung officiating. Burial will be in the Grant Cemetery. A memorial has been established to Grant Cemetery. Born December 17, 1930, in Mt. Pleasant, Edward was the son of Howard and Gladys Anna (Zihlman) Swailes, Sr. He attended Mt. Pleasant Schools, and then attended Iowa Wesleyan College for one year. He enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Korean War. For most of his career Hook worked for the Army Corps of Engineers out of Rock Island. He worked for many years as a pilot and captain of a tugboat on the Mississippi River. He enjoyed fishing, was an avid golfer, and was the unofficial greeter at Wal-Mart. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends while eating biscuits and gravy. Survivors include two sisters, Sharon (Ray) Moad of West Burlington, IA, and Sally (Jay "Pete") Wehrle of Mt. Pleasant, IA; and one brother, Howard "Buck" (Mary) Swailes, Jr, of Rome, IA. Also surviving are numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Hook is preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Shirley Wellington; and a niece, Diana Wellington.