Doris Mae Swanson

Doris Mae Swanson (Varnum), age 92, of West Des Moines, IA (formerly Colfax), passed away on February 12, 2024. The family will greet friends for a visitation on Saturday, February 17, 2024, from 10:00 - 11:00 AM at Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax, Iowa. Following the visitation, a funeral will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax, Iowa. Directly after the funeral service, burial will take place at Green Mountain Cemetery in Green Mountain, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made out to Progress Industries in Newton, Iowa. Online condolences may be left at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

The daughter of Kenneth Varnum and Alice Varnum (Nelson), Doris was born on June 7, 1931, in Marshalltown, Iowa. Doris graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1949 and married Richard Swanson that same year. Doris and Dick resided for over 40 years in Colfax, Iowa where they raised their four daughters. Together they owned and operated Dick’s Tavern and D&D Laundromat. Starting in the mid 1980′s, Doris worked as an associate in a Special Education classroom at Colfax-Mingo Elementary where she worked until retiring in 1996. Doris is a former member of the Colfax Methodist Church. She loved her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews and loved making each of us feel special. Doris enjoyed crossword puzzles, chatting with people, and sports-especially cheering on the Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes.

Those left to honor Doris’ memory include her children; Christie (Michael) Cochran, Diane Dasher, Lori Swanson, and Kasey (Alan) Eoriatti, her grandchildren; Derek Cochran, Jamie (Gary) Fann, Sarah (Bryce) Johnson, Mollie Cochran, Shane (Tiffany) Dasher, Tabatha (Chris) White, Austin Eoriatti, Emma Eoriatti, Kaitlin Eoriatti, and Sophia Eoriatti, her great grandchildren; Brandon Gauci, Bailey Fann, Houston Fann, Lily Fann, Ashleigh Estes, Alley White, Joshua Brandon, Jace Dasher, Charlie Dasher, Dylan Dasher, Zachary Dasher, and Logan Dasher.

Preceding Doris in death were her parents; Alice and Ken Varnum, her husband; Richard Swanson, her siblings; Betty Caldwell and Lloyd Varnum, a granddaughter; Haley Eoriatti, and a son-in-law; John Dasher.