Obituaries : Rose Marie Swails

Rose Marie Swails and lifelong resident of Coralville, IA, peacefully passed away August 14th, 2025, at home with her family at 95 years of age.

A funeral service will be held Friday August 22, 2025, at 12 PM at Lensing's Oak Hill, 210 Holiday Road, Coralville, Iowa where her family will greet friends prior to the service from 11 AM until 12 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to her family to be distributed to organizations that were important to her.

Rose was born December 11, 1929, in Iowa City, Iowa to James and Blanche (Jindrich) Van Scoyoc, along with her younger brother and sister, Jim Van Scoyoc and Georgia Johnson. She graduated from University High School where she was a cheerleader and Homecoming queen.

Rose married her high school sweetheart and best friend, Arnold (Boo) Swails on September 16, 1950, at First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. The couple settled in Coralville, where they would raise their two children Luann and Terry and spent 71 memorable years together.

Rose was a passionate florist for much of her life, owning Swails Flower Shop in Coralville for several years. After the sale of their business, she continued to work in the field. She was a creative soul and was continually making flower arrangements for family and friends, as well as making hundreds of sock dolls for underprivileged children overseas. Later in life, she chose to create (designer) gnomes. They grew in skill and size the more she toiled on them. For those that received them, there will always be a smile and a memory. She also enjoyed camping, traveling in their RV and many family vacations across the country.

Rose is survived by her children, Terry Swails (Carolyn Wettstone) of East Dubuque, IL and Luann (Larry) Niebes of Plainfield, IA; her siblings, Jim (Sheryl) VanScoyoc of Norway, IA and Georgia (Bud) Johnson of Manchester, IA; grandchildren, Staci Klocke, Ryan (Jenna) Klocke, McKayla Kreitzer (Ryan), Eden Swails; great grandchildren, Kydan Bernard, Layla Bernard, Elle Klocke, Charlie Kreitzer & Rory Kreitzer.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.