Memorial

Thomas (Tom) Dean Swyers, 70, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully after complications from surgery on Sunday, August 27, 2023, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House surrounded by his loving family.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday September 2, 2023, at Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church at 720 Edgewood Road NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visitation at 10:00 a.m., service with full military honors at 11 a.m.  Luncheon to follow. 

Tom was born on November 27, 1952, in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Harold and Beverly (Nelson) Swyers. Legend tells of a man who drank coffee straight from a baby bottle because they couldn’t afford milk. Thus, Tom’s lifelong affinity for coffee began. His love for pranks and jokes also began at a young age, often at the expense of his five younger sisters. One of his most infamous pranks involved baby powder (“fart dust”) and his unsuspecting baby sister.  

At 17, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was finally able to enjoy as much milk as he’d always desired. Through family connections, he met the love of his life, Beth, and marrying her on November 27, 1973, in Gilbertville, Iowa, became the best decision of his life. With Honolulu, Hawaii as their first home, Tom continued an honorable naval career until 1978, serving as a Fire Control Technician Ballistic E6 (Petty Officer First Class). He patrolled the deep seas on the U.S.S. George Washington SSBN 598 and the U.S.S. Lewis and Clark SSBN 644, making a total of eight patrols and a transit. Upon discharge, instead of becoming the cook he always expected to be, he continued into a 38-year career as a computer technician and customer engineer for the likes of IBM, StorageTek, and EMC until his well-deserved retirement in 2014. 

Married life with Beth was anything but ordinary, and she quickly became Tom’s prime target for pranks. Whether it was sharing a suspiciously wet kiss after following a horse trailer on his motorcycle or startling her numerous times by hiding for hours in the closet, Tom was relentless. That is, until one particular prank led to a three-day silent treatment from Beth. Realizing he needed a new audience for his antics, they decided to have kids.  

Soon came Tim, T.J., and Ted—the trio that Tom would lovingly target instead of Beth. Regular wrestling matches, 3 vs. 1, would ensue and the boys could somehow never seem to win. That trend followed as Tom taught them to play card games, Othello, chess, and anything else competitive. They learned to win on their own and would eventually become his new “partners in crime.” As Dad, Tom played the roles of disciplinarian and entertainer in equal measure. He always made time for family vacations, camping trips, “man’s hour” with his boys, and fireside stories.  

Tom was more than just a father to his own children—he stepped in as the cherished "bonus dad" for many who didn't even realize they needed one. He was affectionately addressed as “Dad” by many of his sons’ close friends. Tom could make everyone feel like family, which was just one of his many superpowers. And if you ever acted up around him, you'd find yourself on the receiving end of his signature forehead thump. 

Beginning in 2002, Tom was promoted to the distinguished rank of “Papa” to six beautiful grandchildren, a title that brought immeasurable pride and love to his life. Out of all the names and titles he held (and there were many), Papa was his favorite. Whether it was indulging in tickle fights, giving back scratches, going on four-wheeler rides, or watching a movie (sometimes a tad age-inappropriate) with them, he cherished every moment. Sunday brunches surrounded by his children and grandchildren were moments he treasured deeply. 

Tom could fix, build, and troubleshoot anything. Whether it was resurrecting a broken toy, inventing an intricate contraption, or calculating math in binary and hex (without converting to decimal), his skills were unparalleled, and his resourcefulness knew no bounds. He had a love for science fiction, video games like Starcraft and Ultima Online, slot machines, and card games, especially Canasta. And, of course, his coffee—brewed just shy of the temperature of the sun. 

Tom was often mistaken for an adult because of his age. His sailor vocabulary was as colorful and as extensive as his collection of Hawaiian shirts. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Tom knew he had a special charm. He effortlessly expressed thoughts that might have been unconventional coming from anyone else but were embraced as quintessentially Tom. His ability to express unfiltered thoughts that evoked both headshakes and laughter were a testament to his one-of-a-kind presence that endeared him to so many. Even his ability to fall asleep without warning—and the exceptional volume of his snoring—served as a constant reminder of his unique ability to make an impression. 

Despite being married to an incredible baker, Tom's go-to meal was a simple peanut butter sandwich with a glass of milk. He loved the smell of lilacs blooming and had a candid outlook on life and mortality. Every time he spoke about it, he'd assure you he had lived a great life, had wonderful kids and grandkids, and had no regrets. 

To know Tom was to love Tom. And he always made sure that his love was felt by those fortunate enough to know him. A heartfelt hug and a kiss on the cheek were among his many signature moves. We're going to miss those pranks, that dance move, those stories by the fire, and those hugs that felt like home. But most of all, we're going to miss Tom—Dad, Papa, Uncle, Brother, “Sweirdo”—everyone's buddy with a heart as big as his personality. We’re all glad we got to see you, Tom. The pleasure was all ours. 

Tom is survived by his wife of 50 years, Beth Swyers, his three sons, Tim (Angela) Swyers of Cedar Rapids, T.J. (Angie) Swyers of Marion, and Ted (Terese) Swyers of Cedar Rapids. Papa is forever remembered by his six exceptionally good-looking grandchildren, Mya, Ella, Ava, Holden, Griffin Dean, and Roman Thomas. Brother Tom is survived by five sisters; Sue Weber-Baumgartner (Ron), Ginny Amundson, Belinda Massingill (Kent), Phillena Everett, and Marsy Becker (Dave); a brother, Chuck Swyers; and two stepbrothers Bruce and David (Sandra). Uncle Tom will be dearly missed by many nieces and nephews.  

Tom was preceded in death by his father, Harold Dean Swyers; mother, Beverly J. Swyers; other mother, Maxine Swyers; three brothers in law, Larry Weber, Jim Everett, and Alan Amundson; nephew, godson, Matthew Dean Weber; and two nieces, Angie Sands and Katie Everett.