Anita M. Swisher, 94, of Garber passed away Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Guttenberg Municipal Hospital. 

A private burial will be held at Hansel Cemetery in Garber, with a celebration of life on April 11, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Anchor Inn.

Anita was born on April 12, 1931, daughter of William and Luella (Krieg) Ball on the family farm near Elkport. She graduated from Elkport High School in 1948. She was married to Gerald “Fuzzy” Swisher on Sept. 12, 1951, at St. John’s Congregational Church in Garber. They were married for nearly 51 years, until his death in 2002. Fuzzy and Anita bought their home in Garber in 1958, and she lived there until her passing. Together they raised two sons, Scott and Bruce, and she became a second mother to many others along the way.

Anita was independent, hardworking, and always on the go. She always had more work to do than time in the day. Over her years, she enjoyed camping with family and friends, throwing a good party and cooking a good meal for anyone who stopped by. If you needed to know anything, Anita was the one to call.  If there was one thing you could bet on, it was that she would find a garage sale in any town she was passing through. She loved doing her own garage sales a couple times a year and was always trying to find something at a garage sale for her own garage sale.  

  Those left to remember her include her grandson, Nathan of Garber; granddaughter, Sarah of Ankeny; along with many nieces, nephews and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her husband; sons, Scott and Bruce; parents; brother, Merlin; and sister, Lois.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Elkport-Garber EMS/Fire Department or Family Resource Center in Guttenberg. 

Anita’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff at St. Croix Hospice, Guttenberg Memorial Hospital and the Guttenberg Care Center for their kindness and loving care they gave Anita over the past year.

Morris Funeral Home in Guttenberg and Garnavillo assisted the family and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.