Tina C. Swab

Tina Caroline (Kovachevich) Swab was born October 25, 1907, at home near Enterprise, Polk County, Iowa, the sixth of nine children born to Matt and Antonia (Bubanj) Kovachevich. She grew to adulthood in the Polk County area, attending Ankeny High School.
On October 12, 1926, Tina was united in marriage to Mathew Andrew Swab of Centerville, Iowa. The newlyweds established their first home in Des Moines, Iowa, where Tina was a seamstress for the H.C. Grace Company. It was in Des Moines that they were blessed with their first two children, Beverlyjean Marie and John Mathew. In the mid-1940s, the family purchased a service station near Thayer, Iowa. Here “Matts Service” became known for good food and good service. It was here that their daughter, Kathryn Ann was born. In the early, 1950s, the family sold the service station and took up farming in Clark County and later in Union County, Iowa. In 1962, Matt had a stroke, so they left their farm near Lorimor and established a home in the city of Creston, where Tina was a chef at Bernings Cafe. In 1968, they moved to Des Moines, where Tina produced her culinary delights at Bakers Cafeteria and Wesley Acres Retirement Center. In 1973, they retired and moved to Rockaway Beach, Missouri, and enjoyed exploring our great nation. Being of Croatian decent, Matt and Tina had a great appreciation for the opportunities afforded them. In 1980, they moved back to Creston, Iowa, to be near family. In 1998, Tina, having succumbed to dementia, moved to the Afton Care Center in Afton, Iowa, to be near her daughter. It was here that she quietly passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2006. There is open visitation at the Pearson-Coen-Beaty Funeral Home, in Creston, Iowa, with family receiving friends Thursday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Creston, Iowa.
Tina is survived by: two daughters, Beverly Emhoff of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Kathy (husband, Alan) Austin of Afton, Iowa; one son, John (wife, Rene) Swab of Baldwinsville, New York; one sister, Agnes Fisher of Des Moines, Iowa; 6 grandchildren and 12 Great-Grandchildren: Debbie Dresback of Colorado Springs, Colorado and sons, Craig Brian Dresback of Des Moines, Iowa; Christopher (wife, Lisa) Swab and daughters, Ashley and Kristin, of Wolcott, New York; Jennifer (husband, Jack) DeGrace and children, Sam and Tessa, of Webster, New York; Dan Swab of Rochester, New York; Brenda (husband, Greg) Cook and children, Codie, Skylar, Abbie, and Alyssa, of Creston, Iowa; and Terri (husband, Shawn) Bailey and children, Katarina and Ty, of Altoona, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Matt in 1993; granddaughter, Kathryn Lanee Austin in 1971, grandson, Richard Lee Emhoff in 1975; son-in-law, Harold Emhoff in 1995; five brothers: George Kovacevich in 1979, Matthew Kovacevich in 1943, John Kovacevich in 1995, Van Kovacevich in 1996 and Joseph Kovacevich in 2001; and two sisters: Frances Gasparovich Knox in 1969 and Mary Gasparac in 1961.