Lorena Swantz

KALONA-Lorena Mae Swantz, age 89, of Kalona, died Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at University of Iowa Downtown Campus.
Lorena was born July 27, 1936, in Kalona, the daughter of Ezra and Sylvia (Yoder) Brenneman and graduated from Iowa Mennonite School in 1955. On October 23, 1956, she was united in marriage to Charles E. Swantz at the Fairview Mennonite Church near Kalona. They moved to Colorado Springs for two years while Chuck served in 1W service and then returned to the Kalona area. Lorena was a member of the Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church. She always put others first, caring for Charles for 40 years following his eye accident. Lorena enjoyed cooking, sewing, quilt piecing and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Lorena leaves a lasting legacy by being a tissue donor.
Lorena is survived by four children: Donna (Nelson) Miller, Rodney (Beth) Swantz, Karla (Al) Coblentz all of Kalona and Nita (Steve) Minino of Omaha; six grandchildren: Tyler (Rosanna) Coblentz, Travis (Rachel) Coblentz, Camden and Jackson Miller, Taylor (Tavon) Bagley and Lauren (Leland) Ropp; 10 great grandchildren: Noah, Levi, Carson and Thea Coblentz, Easton and Nora Ropp, Elliott, Vincent and Abel Coblentz, Remington Bagley and two on the way; two sisters: Mary (Merlin) Grieser of Pennsylvania and Dortha (Bill) Marshall of Missouri and a sister-in-law: Eunice Brenneman of Indiana. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Charles in 2021 and brother Merle Brenneman.

Funeral Service will be held 10:30 am on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church rural Kalona. The service will be live streamed on the Powell Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be in the Lower Deer Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, where the family will greet friends from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona.

A memorial fund has been established for Pleasantview. Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona is caring for Lorena and her family. Messages and tributes can be made at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.