Alois M. Swiger, 83, of Cleveland, TN, died Monday afternoon, November 5, 2012, at a Chattanooga hospital.
Born June 7, 1929, he was the oldest child of the late Archie R. Swiger and Avis F. Randolph Swiger; and was also preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mary Sue Jones Swiger; son, Stanley R. Swiger; brother, Kermit A. Swiger; and sister, LeMoyne Swiger.
He was one of those individuals who could fix just about anything to which he set his mind. He was a graduate of Lee College. He was a member at South Cleveland Church of God. In 1948-50, he served as a teacher principal at Eureka School. While serving as a pastor at local churches, he drove a bus for Cleveland City schools and a special education bus. He served with the U.S. Navy Reserve. He was an ordained minister in the Church of God. He served as pastor at churches in Oregon, Idaho and Tennessee. In the late 1950s, he served as chaplain at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. In the local area, he served pastorates at Blue Springs, Pine Hill and Kinser Churches of God. In May of 1981, he was injured in a bike/car accident that forced him to retire from the ministry.
Survivors include his children, Steven and Bobbie Swiger, Gwenda Swiger, Harold and Rhonda Swiger of Hamilton, OH, Kenneth and Rebecca Swiger of Lenoir City, and Melissa Rice of Cleveland; grandchildren, Wendy and Harold Eaton of Niota, Rebecca and Steve Pressley of Cleveland, Amanda Swiger and Alexander Swiger, both of Lenoir City, Jay and Tara Swiger of Johnson City and Robby Rice and Jackson Rice of Cleveland; great-grandchildren, Lacy Nicole Ellis, Erika Pressley, Mitchell Ellis, Tim Pressley, Tom Pressley, Jeremy Pressley, Jake Pressley and Michael Eaton; great-great-granddaughter, Callie Jarrett; sisters-in-law, Norma Reker of Murfreesboro, and Rachel Cobb and Ruth Keisling, both of Oregon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at Fike Funeral Home with Pastor Chris Moody and Carl Hobbs officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with Lynn Rice, Jay Swiger, Alex Swiger, Mitch Ellis, Michael Eaton, Anthony McDowell, and Steve Pressley serving as pallbearers and Jackson Rice, Timmy Pressley, Tommy Pressley, Robby Rice and Jeremy Pressley serving as honorary pallbearers. A white dove release will conclude the service.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 7 at the Fike Funeral Home who has charge of the arrangements.