Eloise Sward, 91, of Sully, passed away Feb. 9, 2022. Visitation with the family present will be 4-6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25, at Harvest House, 7179 East 110th Street South, Sully. A Celebration of Life will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Harvest House. Private inurnment will be at Sully Cemetery. Memorials have been designated for St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church of rural Sully and Hospice of Pella.
Eloise was born Jan. 8, 1931, in Wausa, NE, the daughter of Theodore and Elsie (Larsen) Seagren. They resided on a farm north of Wausa. She was baptized and confirmed at Thabor Lutheran Church in Wausa. Eloise attended Wausa Elementary and High School. She attended Luther College in Wahoo, NE, for two years and earned her BA and teaching degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. Her first teaching job was in Lincoln, NE.
Eloise met Robert “Bob” Sward in Lincoln, NE, and the two were married on Sept. 1, 1956, in Lincoln. Bob was enlisted in the Navy and soon thereafter stationed in Oakland, CA, where Eloise taught school while Bob was deployed on a naval vessel. Their son Terry Alan was born in Oakland. In 1957, Eloise and Bob returned to Lincoln where they both pursued careers in the education field - Eloise as a teacher and Bob as an administrator. Three children were born in Lincoln: Julie Gwen, Lori Kristine, and Ricky Eugene.
In 1967, they moved to Colo where Bob took the elementary principal job at Colo Schools. In 1969, they moved to Sully where they resided on an acreage. Eloise taught fourth grade at Kellogg Elementary School and later at Berg Elementary School in Newton. She was a gifted teacher with a passion for her students. She retired in 1998 after 31 years of teaching.
Eloise and Bob enjoyed many years on the “farm” with large gardens, the produce of which they canned and shared generously with others. They also enjoyed spending time at Holden Village in Chelan, WA, where Bob worked on construction repairs for the housing, and they enjoyed time in the nature setting. Eloise was an avid reader and was always on the hunt for a New York Times bestseller as her next literary conquest. In June of 2020, Eloise moved to Newton Village. While there, we teased her that she was going to read through their entire library, and we would have to restock it.
Eloise was extremely devoted and vested in her children, grandchildren, and great-grand- children’s lives. The ripples of her love, patience, and grace are felt throughout the generations of her family and friends. And most importantly, she lived her life as a servant-hearted leader who led with a quiet strength. In addition, she had a multi-page prayer list that she prayed through daily for the needs and concerns of others. Eloise was a great listener, always lending an empathetic ear. The members of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church were an extension of her family, and she loved them well. Eloise enjoyed playing piano for enjoyment and at church.
Eloise is survived by her children: Terry (Linda) Sward, Lee’s Summit, MO, Julie (Stuart) Zurcher, Newton, Lori (Tim) Zylstra, Sully, Ricky (Jackie) Sward, Monument, CO; grandchildren: Josiah (Alexandrea) Sward, Alyssa Sward, Kristen (Justin) Burmeister, Robert (Emily) Ritter, Anne (Pheng) Vang, Lindsey Ritter, Benjamin (Jennifer) Zylstra, Bethany (Chase) Tanke, Bart (Kasey) Zylstra, Amanda Sward, and Lucas (Mikaila Wahl) Sward; stepgrandchildren: Spencer Wenck, Tate (Tristina) Wenck, Lucas (Catie) Zurcher, April (DJ) Miles, Amber (Tyler) Mathis, and Anna Zurcher; and 25 great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Robert E. Sward; brother Alan T. Seagren; sister-in-law Sharon A. Seagren; brother-in-law Alfred W. Sward; and sister-in-law Roberta J. Sward.
