Charles Hugh Swink

Charles "Charlie" Swink, 78, of West Burlington, died at 2:45 AM Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington with family by his side. 

Born December 17, 1942, in Burlington, he was the son of Melvin Hugh and Eileen L. Ball Swink. On May 18, 1974 he married Kathleen Mae Wolford in Stronghurst, IL. She later passed on October 15, 1994. He met Debbie L. Myers in Burlington, IA  and married on July 26, 1996, expanding his family.

He was a 1961 graduate of Burlington High School and worked at Bowl Inn lanes as a pin setter. 

He served his country as a specialist in the U.S. Army, receiving honors for his marksmanship and completed his service in Korea 1964.

After Charlie left the service, he returned to Burlington where he worked for JI Case for over 30 years and raised his family.  After retiring from JI Case in 1995 he later started at Enterprise Car Rental in Burlington and entertained them for over 20 years.

Charlie’s openness and warmth made sure that everyone he met never felt like a stranger for long. He was a man of faith that reflected in all he did and was very involved in his community and church.  He was a lifelong member at Open Bible Church of Burlington and later shared in the congregation at Hope Fellowship Church. Charlie was a board member of UAW Local 807 Retirees and a board member for UAW Region 4, as well as, a board member for Casebine Community Credit Union for 27 years. He was a proud blood donor, at over 16 gallons and going!  He enjoyed playing baseball with church leagues and city teams in Burlington. He also officiated for many years for the church league that played at the Rec-Plex. Charlie also enjoyed basketball, attending the NJCAA "Hutch" Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas for over 45 years. He also followed Southeastern Community College basketball and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye football fan regularly attending games for over 35 years. Charlie spent each year traveling with his siblings, countless nieces and nephews, including his brother Donny (Donna) Swink and sisters, Barbara Middleton, Kay Swink, Diana (Paul) Flactiff, all of Burlington and Paula (Cliff) Kilpatrick and Luanna (Tim) Nelson of Texas for the holidays and ensured the party was always successful.  Debbie and Charlie also enjoyed traveling together and seeing their children, Allen D. Swink of Denver, Co., Brian K. (Annie) Olson of Aurora, CO., and Rachel L. (Bob) Miller of Aurora, IL.  What he was made for was to become a Papa and he shined around Aidan Miller, Grace Olson, Ellie Miller and Jackson Olson and honorary granddaughter, Landry Jones.  He always enjoyed coming home to his two Burmese Rescue Cats, Poindexter and Misty.  Especially as Charlie’s health diminished over this year, they were never far from his side. 

He was preceded in death by his first love, wife, Kathleen, their daughter, Carol Swink and his brother, John Swink.

Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Prugh Crematory.

The memorial service for Charlie will be 11:00 AM Saturday, April 10, 2021, at First Baptist Church in Fort Madison, IA with Pastor Dean Graber officiating. A Celebration of Life will follow at the church until 3:00 PM. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for Mitch King's Extra Heartbeat Foundation (extraheartbeat.org) and the Burmese Cat Rescue (burmesecat.org).

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.