Daniel Swize

Daniel James Swize was born on July 19, 1930 in Hobson, Texas to Emil & Susie Kostelnik Swize. Daniel died peacefully in his home surrounded by family on March 6, 2024 at the age of 93.
Daniel was raised in Hobson where he attended the Arnold Community School and then graduated from Karnes City High School in 1948. While in High School at age 16, he was approached and asked if he wanted to drive a school bus for the school district, which in today's time is unheard of, he accepted and continued driving the bus for 17 years. It was while driving the bus, his love was won over by a neighbor girl named Elizabeth Huehlefeld. As he was the bus driver, it was totally obvious that he was smitten with her as he would always make sure she would be the last stop and last one off the bus. As the love grew, she would accompany him while driving the pep squad to football games.
Upon graduation, he worked as a bookkeeper and then at McClane Motor Company in Karnes City, where he refined his art of bookkeeping. After a short time, he was approached regarding a job with Gonzales Production Credit Association as a loan officer. He started off working at the Yorktown field office for a short time of five years before they closed that office, and then moved to the Karnes City Field Office to work as the manager. He was employed by PCA for a total of 33 years and met many wonderful people who became friends for a lifetime. He retired in 1988 when the Karnes City Office was closed. After that he moved to another full-time job of farming, ranching, and driving friends to San Antonio for doctor appointments whenever asked.
In the 1960's he and a group of people ran a dance hall in Hobson, Texas known as the "LUCKY 7 CLUB". Many dances were held there with good ole "oompapa" music was played by several bands and other groups of country & western music such as Johnny Bush and the bandaleros and Moe Bandy. He greatly cherished those times of being able to dance and waltz with Liz across the floor, and being able to dance with the other ladies. It was more than friends, but a true family of friends that had many fun times. He would often say that back then they didn't have a lot of money, but they sure had a lot of fun.
During his retirement years, he would also meet up with friends at the Palace Café for coffee and later began meeting up with them at Pollok's in Falls City. He also thoroughly enjoyed having his good friend and ranch hand Albert Cruz working for him and always being with him for a cup of coffee in the morning. Albert, you gave him true friendship and love that will forever be remembered.
Now the best part was in 1964 after being unable to have a child, Daniel and Liz were notified that they were approved for adoption of a baby. On December 7th, 1964, they received word that their adoption had been approved and 7 days later they flew to Dallas, Texas to pick up a bouncing baby boy that they named Russell Frank Swize. He and Liz had a special love from God in the acceptance of a baby not born of them, but gave it unconditional love from the first moment of view. They felt blessed and I could not have asked for a more beautiful mom and dad for me, and who I was.
In 1991, they received the daughter they never had, when Russell married Carol Mueller and they immediately accepted David and Krysten as their grandchildren. In 2002, their life was truly blessed again with the birth of Kasey Swize. She was the apple of his eye and Daniel became her "diddy". She was the sparkle of his eye and whatever Kasey wanted to do with him, well he was game for it. He always wanted to make sure that she was well, and always told me to take care of her and guide her.
Daniel was preceded in death by his parents, Emil & Susie Swize; loving wife, Elizabeth Swize; and brother and sister-in-law, Allen & Betty Swize.
Daniel is survived by his son and daughter in law, Russell & Carol Swize; granddaughters, Kasey Swize & Krysten Gabriel; grandson, David Gabriel and wife Melissa; and great grandchildren, Dylan, Trinity, Maverick and Kynnlea.
Daniel is also survived by his siblings, Myron (Lydia) Swize, Darlene (Norman) Moczygemba, James (Patricia) Swize, and Emil Jr (Elizabeth) Swize.
A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2024 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Hobson. A rosary will be recited there at 7:00 p.m. that evening. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2024 also at St. Boniface Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the Hobson Cemetery.