Melanie Sweeney

Melanie M. Sweeney, 66, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 22, 2012, at Taylor House Hospice from cancer. Melanie was born February 21, 1946, in the Navy Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, and had lived in the Des Moines area for the past 40 years.

Melanie is survived by her husband, Gary; children, Jennifer (Kevin) Zaugg, Chris (Missy) Sweeney, and Keevan (Mike) Kosidowski; mother, Lois Lesher; sisters, Rhonda (Lucky) Dickerson and Linda (Steve) Jurrens; brother, David (Carol) Lesher; and her grandchildren, Ava, Fay and Lily Zaugg, Ella Sweeney, and Ally, Danielle, Jack, and CarLee Kosidowski. She was preceded in death by her father, Melvin Lesher.

Melanie grew up on the Lesher family farm in Clarion, Iowa. After graduation from Clarion High School, she attended Buena Visita University and Iowa State University majoring in Advertising Design. In 1971, Melanie met her future husband at RR Donnelly in Nevada. On June 10, 1972, they were united in marriage at the First United Methodist Church in Clarion. Gary and Melanie moved to Des Moines in 1973, where they currently reside. She retired from Target in 2010, where she had worked as an office associate for 28 years. Melanie was a member of Staves Memorial United Methodist Church.

Melanie was a gifted artist with a love for painting landscapes. Gary and Melanie were avid travelers and especially enjoyed visiting Europe. Despite being an Iowa State alum, she eventually grew to love the Iowa Hawkeyes while attending Iowa football games for over 30 years with her husband. Melanie’s hobbies also included gardening and bird watching, but most of all, she loved spending time with her grandkids.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday, November 25, 2012, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, November 26, 2012, at Staves Memorial United Methodist Church, 2747 E. Madison Avenue, followed by burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions received by the family will be given in memory of Melanie to the Taylor House Hospice.

Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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