Gregory Dennis "Greg" Swartz

Gregory (Greg) Dennis Swartz, 76, of McAllen, TX, died on November 24, 2025, at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg, TX. His death followed a short illness due to strokes caused by kidney cancer.

Gregory was born on February 21, 1949, in Creston, Iowa, to Norma and Clarence Swartz. He grew up on a farm near Hebron, Iowa, and graduated from Orient-Macksburg High School in Orient, IA. He went on to receive a bachelor's degree in accounting and economics from Buena Vista University, in Storm Lake, Iowa. He married his high school sweetheart, Jean Rogers, on July 17, 1971, at the Methodist Church in Macksburg, IA. After beginning his career as a junior accountant with Deloitte, Haskins and Sells in Omaha, NE, he earned a Master of BusinessAdministration from Creighton University in Omaha, NE, and began work as an Internal Auditor for S. Riekes and Sons in Omaha, NE.

After four years, Greg found that accounting was not his passion. With the birth of their son, Andrew, in 1975, they started both a family and a business, Homestead Decorating, in Winterset, IA. Here Greg could pursue his true passion for home decorating and remodeling. In 1982 Gregory built on another interest when he and some friends opened The Computer Tree in Creston, Iowa, which he managed.

Always flexible, a souring economy required Greg to pivot back to accounting in 1986 and move the family from Winterset, IA, to El Paso, TX; then Saltillo, Mexico; and finally McAllen, TX. Over the next 25 years Greg served as General Manager for El Paso Assemblies (1986-1988); General Manager of Echlin De Saltillo, Mexico (1988-91); Plant Manager, ITT Automotive, Rio Bravo, Mexico (1991-1997); Division Operations Manager (1997-1999); and Director of Operations for TRW Corporations, Reynosa, Mexico. Before retiring, Greg also worked as Plant Manager for SEMCO Manufacturing in Pharr, TX.

In 2011, Greg found his favorite job-retired! Spending time with his two grandchildren was his favorite pastime. He also managed and maintained several rental properties. An avid woodworker, Greg used the skills he learned in Homestead Decorating to remodel most of his rentals. Other wood working projects for their house included building kitchen cabinets and constructing a front door with stained glass. Special projects for his grandchildren featured a rocking horse for his grandson, a doll house for his granddaughter, and a playhouse. He and Jean loved to travel and visited all 50 states, many Canadian provinces, New Zealand, and several European counties. Until two days before he was admitted to the hospital, Greg logged three miles each day on the neighborhood hike/bike trail.

Greg is survived by his wife, Jean Rogers Swartz of McAllen, TX; his son, Andrew Swartz, of McAllen, TX; and his two grandchildren David Swartz and Ava Swartz.

Greg was preceded in death by his mother, Norma Andrews Swartz, and his father, Clarence Swartz.

Practical Greg would not want you to "waste money" on flowers. Greg loved building things and working with tools. If you wish to honor Greg's memory, please donate under his name and email to Habitat for Humanity: greg.swartz.memorial@gmail.com

https://www.habitat.org/donate/?link=628

Plans for a private family service are pending.