Billie Swank

Passing away on October 31st was Billie Geraldine (Franger) Swank. Billie was one of Bremen's pillar citizens, her birth was August 18, 1917. She lived a very full active life, a high school basketball player, she remained interested in sports her entire life. Marrying on February 2, 1935 to Roland Swank she remained married over 70 years. He preceded her in death on April 4, 2005.

Billie had 6 children, daughter Sue (Dave) Lemler, granddaughters Ann (Tom) Ecklebarger, Mary Kay (David) Espich, great granddaughter Victoria Elaine. Daughter Sharon (Marty) Luther, granddaughter Susan (Steve) Florez, great granddaughter Ambra, great-greats Jillian and Tessa, great grandson Ben, great-greats Teagan and Teverly, great grandson Zach and great granddaughter Genna, granddaughter Amy (Steve) Trevino, great granddaughter Haley, great grandson Dustin, great-great Aubrey, great granddaughter Erin, grandson Curt (MaryAnn) Manges, great granddaughter Shani, great-greats Jayden, Malachi, and Rosalind, great granddaughter Shari, great grandson Kevan, great-greats Jace and Kiley. Grandson Jan David (Marie) Manges. Daughter Sheila (Jimmy) Sowder, granddaughter Shayne Huff (Ed) Mamento, great grandson Ethan. Son John (Katie) Swank, son Patrick, and son Jeff (Kim) Swank.

Billie was a member of the first cafeteria crew at Bremen High School. She was one of the first employees for Universal Bearing and remained there until her retirement. She was active with Grace United Methodist church, as a Sunday school teacher for the young married couples class for many years, touching many lives, she was also active in the administration of the church, a very religious women her faith stayed strong her entire life. Billie was involved with the startup of the Holy Walk, participating, and helping organize the event for over 20 years, looking forward to it every year. Billie was active in the Bremen Hospital Auxiliary, working in the gift shop, and with the annual barbeque fundraiser. In midlife Billie took college classes in creative writing, and went onto to becoming a published professional writer. Her enjoyment of the written word, either reading it, or writing it, was endless. Billie was also a farm wife, taking care of many tasks around the farm, from raising chickens, to planting, and harvesting a huge garden every year. She also enjoyed her flower rock gardens, which she took pride in, at her farmhouse, and at her retirement home by the pond. With her husband she traveled extensively throughout the United States, mostly visiting her children, and grandchildren, but also enjoying every trek down the unknown road, she ended up visiting every state except Hawaii.

She was preceded in death by her parent Melvin and Cecile (Fryer) Franger, her husband Roland, infant son Patrick, daughter Sue, and son-in-law Dave Lemler, her sisters Masil, Bess, Victory, and brother Vern.

Billie will be greatly missed, she was one of the last to live through the great depression, and the rationing of World War II, with many unbelievable, and humorous adventures those happenings caused.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, November 6, 2009 at the Mishler Funeral Home in Bremen and will be officiated by Pastor Chuck Krieg with a luncheon to follow at the Bremen United Methodist Student Center Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to the Bremen Hospital Auxiliary

Friends may call from 4 ? 8 PM on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at the funeral home.