Randy G. Swartzendruber

Randy G. Swartzendruber, 77, of Kalona, passed from this life on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at his home in Kalona surrounded by his family. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Kalona United Methodist Church. The service will be available via Livestream at the Beatty Peterseim Facebook and YouTube pages. He will be cremated following the service and burial will take place at a later date. Visitation will be held Friday, February 21, 2025, from 4 – 7 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for the Kalona Volunteer Fire Department and Richmond Am-Vets Post #107.

Randy was born December 15, 1947, the son of Gail L. and Virginia (Snyder) Swartzendruber. He attended Mid-Prairie High School and in 1968 he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War. He was united in marriage to Sue Raymond, they had two children and later divorced. On October 7, 2000, he married Joyce (Harvey) Blum, the love of his life. Randy worked at Wayne Feeds for 25 years and Stutsman’s, Inc. for 24 years. He was a member of the Kalona Volunteer Fire Department for 45 years and a lifetime member of Richmond Am-Vets Post #107. Randy was a race fan and volunteered with the Ron Boyse racing team. He grew amazing “Elephant Ears” in his front flower bed, and enjoyed gifting them to folks and engaging in a friendly competition to see who could grow the biggest plants. In 2018, Randy took part in the Honor Flight to Washington DC with his brother Kevin as his chaperone. On May 1, 2024, he was honored to be able to serve as a chaperone on that flight, with two special friends. He will be remembered as a friendly man who enjoyed visiting friends and was always up for a good party. More important to him than anything else was his family, and the time he spent with them meant the world to him.

Survivors include his wife Joyce of Kalona; three children: Kelly (Calvin) Smith of Moberly, MO, Kyle (Nicole) Swartzendruber of Clark, MO, Jerri (Jim) Kron of Riverside, IA; four grandchildren: Alaina Smith, Drake (Trea) Gross, Aaron Kron and Averi Kron (special friend Owen); two great-grandchildren: Kinsley Jo and Houston; and five siblings: Linda Miller of Guernsey, IA, Bill (Salinda) Swartzendruber of Bellevue, NE, Dave (Deb) Swartzendruber of Riverside, IA, Patty Swartzendruber of Iowa City, IA, Kevin (Carol) Swartzendruber of Kalona, IA; brother-in-law, Paul Ross, of Casa Grande, AZ; and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Preceding Randy in death were his parents, sister Sue Ross, his brother-in-law Roman Miller, and niece Steffany Swartzendruber.