IN LOVING MEMORY OF
William Paul
Swank
October 9, 1934 – February 17, 2024
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William "Bill" Paul Swank, age 89, of Mitchell, SD passed peacefully the afternoon of Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at the Will Funeral Chapel with burial following at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Wednesday at Will Funeral Chapel.
W.P. Swank, son of Clarence and Gladys (Luebke) Swank, was born October 9, 1934 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Bill grew up in Kenosha and attended school there, graduating from Mary D. Bradford High School in 1952.
W.P. united in marriage with his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Antionette "Toni" Podella on November 27, 1954 in Kenosha. Bill attended Marquette University, while employed at Greening's Mens Clothing Store in Kenosha. Bill had a passionate and successful career managing retail locations for Montgomery Wards throughout the Midwest in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. In 1975, Bill became an entrepreneur and opened Swanks of Mitchell Menswear with his son Dave. Later, Bill and Toni moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In 2010 they returned to their adopted hometown of Mitchell, where proudly all of their children graduated from MHS.
Bill was a dedicated father and family man. His true love was spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Outside of work and family, W.P. also enjoyed yardwork, his trains, and the Minnesota Vikings.
Grateful for having shared his life are his five children, Robert (Deborah) Swank, Sun Prairie, WI, Deacon Jeffery (Karen) Swank, Aberdeen, SD, Dave (Ruth) Swank, Sioux Falls, SD, Kristine (Robert) Finkenbiner, Libertyville, IL, Rick (Kim) Swank, Mitchell, SD; sixteen grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Shirley (Gary) Pitts, Kenosha, WI, Jean Walrath, Kenosha, WI; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Podella, Kenosha, WI.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Antionette; his parents; his in-laws, Fred and Kristine Podella; brothers-in-law, Noel Walrath, Harold Bridgeman, Fred Podella, Joe Podella; and a sister-in-law, Velma.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association.
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