- Date Of Birth: August 12, 1919
- Date Of Death: May 24, 2021
- State: Iowa
Eloise E. Swain-Kehret-Petersen was peacefully called to her heavenly home on May 24, 2021. She was born to Rev. George A.W. and Clara Vogel in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 12, 1919, a time when the troops were returning from World War I Europe. Achieving centenarian status, Eloise was born during the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918, in adolescence survived a severe bout of scarlet fever, and passed during the Corona Virus Pandemic of 2020.
Eloise graduated from North High School in Des Moines in June 1937. Following a brief employment in the accounting department of Younkers Department Store in Des Moines, she went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1938, where she completed nearly 30 years of service, and was a Life member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.
The foundation of Eloise’s life was her Christian faith. As an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, she taught Sunday School, helped with the junior choir, and belonged to various church organizations, including serving as District Secretary of the Walter League’s Iowa District West. Having a great fondness for music, Eloise enjoyed classical music, playing the piano, and singing. She sang in the North High School A Cappella Chorus, Girls’ Glee Club, and the Trinity Adult Choir.
As a member of the Bell Telephone Choir in 1943, Eloise met Fred W. Swain Jr., also a member, and in 1945 the couple married. They raised three children. Three years following Fred’s death in 1964, Eloise married Emil A. Kehret, also of Northwestern Bell. In 1975 Emil and Eloise retired, built their retirement home, and moved to Greenfield, Iowa, where they were active members of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Following Emil’s death in 1990 Eloise returned to Des Moines. In 1993 she married Glenn A. Petersen, whom she had first met while a senior in high school when Glenn joined Trinity Lutheran Church, where Eloise’s father was pastor.
In addition to her numerous church activities, Eloise had a creative flair that was manifested in her love of writing, cooking, decorating, entertaining and various forms of needlework.
Eloise was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. George A.W. and Clara Vogel, three spouses, Fred W. Swain Jr., Emil A. Kehret, and Glenn A. Petersen, four sisters, Cordelia Henline, Helen Vogel, Dorothy Vogel, and Irma Queck, a stepson, David W. Kehret, and a stepson-in-law, Jean Marc Garry.
She is survived by her children, Fred G. (Somjit) Swain, of Spring, TX, Mary E. (Marvin) Melsha, of Bluffton, SC, Carolyn R. (Christopher) Larson, of Urbandale, IA, stepdaughters, Joan M. Garry of Paris, France, Judy L. (Steven) Klungtvedt, of Ankeny, IA, and Janet L. (Mike) Egert, of Polk City, IA. She is also survived by ten grand, and step grandchildren, and sixteen great and step great grandchildren.
