Joe Charles Swendig, 88

Joe Charles Swendig, of Hayden, passed away Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Joe was born in St. Paul, Minn., on Nov. 9, 1924, to Joseph and Debra Alice Swendig. When he was 6 years old, the family moved to Harrison Flats and established a working farm. He attended Harrison High School and the University of Idaho before enlisting in the Army Infantry. Following his discharge he graduated from Kinman Business College.

Joe married his life’s dance partner Mary (Billie) Newhouse in 1956, and oh, how they loved to dance! Big Bands, Jazz Festivals, anywhere there was a good floor and good music. They settled in Sandpoint where they owned and operated Joe Swendig Insurance. He was a Mason, served as the president of the Panhandle Shrine Club, and was a member of both the Eagles and Elks Lodge. He is a past president of the Bonner County Democrats. Joe loved the outdoors and was an avid horseman. He organized a snowmobile club while living in Sandpoint.

In 1976, Joe sold his insurance business and moved to Laclede where he owned and operated a cattle ranch until 1980. He and Billie then moved to the Coeur d’Alene area where his love of horses and dancing continued. He joined the Montana Back Country Horseman Club and was instrumental in the formation of the Panhandle chapter of Back Country Horseman and served as its president from 1983 to 1986. The Panhandle group started other clubs in different locales and Back Country Horseman has since become a nationwide organization. When he could no longer ride, Joe helped his eldest son Jon train horses to pull a buggy and continued to enjoy those buggy rides as recently as last fall.

Joe is survived by his wife, Mary (Billie); and his children, Jon Swendig and his wife, Nanette, Julie Ann Danielson, and Andrew Swendig and his wife, Linda. He has five grandchildren, Casey, Jason and Holly Swendig, Havilah and Sean Danielson; and great-grandson Tristan Danielson.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden Lake. Please visit Joe’s memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210.