Francis C. “Ike” Sweiger

Francis C. "Ike" Sweiger age 82 of Cleveland, passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at the Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at the Church of the Nativity in Cleveland. Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 pm Tuesday at St. Peter Funeral Home with a prayer service at 6:30pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church Wednesday. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Mankato with military honors. Francis was born February 19, 1933 to David James and Mary Ann (Bartels) Sweiger in Mankato and was the 9th of 12 children. On September 20, 1955 Francis and Elaine Goettl were united in Holy Matrimony and were married for 35 years. They were blessed with three children: Susan Mary, Donald Paul and James Charles. He served from 1950 to 1956 in the United States Army and was stationed in Japan for three years during the Korean Conflict. When he was discharged from the service, he worked as a Railroad Engineer with the Chicago/Northwestern Railroad for 36 years. In his retirement he enjoyed traveling, fishing, collecting oil lamps visiting casinos, collecting coins, playing on the computer and sharing his many railroad stories. He also derived great satisfaction helping others. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 950 in Mankato for 54 years. Survivors include: his daughter, Susan (Steven Blake) White-Blake; granddaughters: Heather (Aaron) Allen and Ashley; sister Margaret Sack; and sister-in-law Marge Sweiger. Also surviving are his special niece Eileen Attenberger and her family and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Elaine, two sons: Donald Paul and James Charles; his parents; five brothers: Eugene Burton, Robert Fredrick, Howard Paul, David James Jr. and James; five sisters: Marietta Rud, Delores Cecelia Morgan, Delane Lucille Johnson, Mary Jane Baker and Joanne Frances Severns.