Custodian
Leroy Rowe, 74
Died February 23, 2021.
Adlai E. Stevenson School No. 29, Rochester, NY
Custodian
Kim Swoverland, 60
Died December 1, 2020.
Sheridan Elementary School, Sheboygan, WI
Custodian
Kim “Swovy” Swoverland of Sheboygan left this earth on December 1, 2020 to embark on his endless motorcycle ride in the sky. After a long courageous battle with COVID, and hearing messages from those whose lives he touched, he passed peacefully while holding his loving wife’s hand.
Kim was born October 14, 1960, to Andrew and Gwendolyn Swoverland. He graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School in 1979. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he received a “Good Conduct First Medal Award” for his four years of service. After the Marine Corps, he was a foreman at Polar Ware for 16 years. In April 2005, he joined the Sheboygan Area School District as a custodian. Over the past 15 years he worked at Longfellow Elementary School and Sheridan Elementary School. The staff, parents, and students fondly called him “Mr. Kim.”
He was united in marriage to the love of his life Berta Campbell on October 1, 1993. He proudly took on the role as step-father to Paul, Jennifer, and Stephanie Campbell. After their nest was empty, they followed their dreams and opened Swovy’s Bar and Grill. It was there they unexpectedly gained another “family” of lifelong friends.
Kim lived his life with zest and as if there were no tomorrow. He would ride his motorcycle starting in spring before all the snow melted until well after the first snowfall of winter. Kim rode that Goldwing, which his wife referred to as “the other woman,” to all 48 contiguous United States and it was a part of making countless memories and friendships.
Kim always knew what someone needed to brighten their day, whether it was a warm smile, a joke, a piece of advice, a helping hand, a listening ear, a Santa suit, or even a broom in their hand. He got joy from going on adventures with his wife, friends, and family—from Brewer bus trips and weekend getaways to annual family vacations. He loved spending time with and spoiling his three grandchildren: Logan (14); Austin (10); and Emalyn (6). He took them fishing, camping, to sporting events, and especially enjoyed just hanging out playing games. Emalyn in particular had him wrapped around her little finger. This big macho man could be found on the floor playing with Barbies, Legos, Play-Doh, and coloring books if Emalyn had invited him to do so. She also had a special privilege of being able to take endless selfies and pictures of him without his normal tendency of providing close ups of his middle finger or elbow to block the shot.
Kim had a big heart, a warm smile, and a strong desire to brighten every person’s day he encountered. He worked hard and played hard without sweating the small stuff. His montages were truly a reflection of how he lived his life: “Don’t worry, it will be okay”; “Anything can be fixed with glues and screws”; “Seriously?”; and “Living the dream.” He ended many conversations with “Gotta go! Got sh@* to do!” as he would scurry away. We can honor him by remembering to take things as they come, being present for each person we meet, helping those around you, and living each day like tomorrow is not guaranteed.
Kim is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Berta; his three step-children: Paul Campbell (Las Vegas), Jennifer Campbell (Sheboygan Falls), and Stephanie (Brandon) Hurst (Sheboygan); his three grandchildren: Logan Sanders, Austin Sharp, and Emalyn Hurst; siblings, Jacqueline (Michael) Kaiser, Andrew “Bud” (Julie) Swoverland (Howards Grove) and Jeff Swoverland (Sheboygan); and his best bud Alan (Nicole) Kleinke. Many (and many) other aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He also leaves behind two dogs whom he loved and will miss him dearly, Karma and his “little buddy” Coal.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Gwendolyn and Andrew, and brother, Dale, and many aunts, uncles, and friends.
A celebration of life to be held at a later date to honor this simple, humble, but amazing man who touched so many lives.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors, nurses, CNAs, lab technicians, and respiratory therapists at Essentia Health – St. Mary’s Duluth Minnesota for the compassionate care they provided Kim.
Dinora Mejia
Died January 10, 2021.
Potomac View Elementary School, Woodbridge, VA
Custodian
A custodian who worked at a Prince William County’s Potomac View Elementary School has died from complications to COVID-19, the school division has confirmed.
The custodian, identified by the school division as Dinora Mejia, was “a longtime daytime custodian” at the Woodbridge elementary school. She had been on medical leave since Dec. 9, Potomac View Elementary School Principal Latiesa Geen said in a Jan. 11 email to parents.
Members of the school division’s “critical incident team will be available to assist students and staff in coping with their sadness,” Green’s email said.
“Please pay attention to your student’s emotional needs during the next few weeks, especially if he/she knew Ms. Mejia,” the email said.
Prince William County schools officials confirmed the custodian’s death on Tuesday morning.
“We are very saddened by the death of Dinora Mejia, beloved daytime custodian at Potomac View Elementary School and 20-year employee of PWCS,” Diana Gulotta, a school division spokeswoman, said in an email.
Mejia is the first school division employee to die of complications related to COVID, Gulotta said.
The school division does not believe the custodian became infected with the virus at school, Gulotta said.
“We were provided information that she had close contact with someone outside of school that had COVID-19,” Gulotta said in an email.
News of the custodian’s death comes as the school division welcomed thousands more students into the school buildings today as its hybrid learning model expanded to include second- and third-grade students. They returned to schools on Jan. 12 for the first time since last March.
The news also precedes the school board’s special meeting, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. tonight, to discuss Superintendent Steven Walts’ latest change to in-school learning plans.
Teachers and staff are now eligible for vaccines and are set to begin receiving them on Jan. 28, Prince William Health Department Director Dr. Alison Ansher told the Manassas City Council Monday night.
Grover Casey, 44
Died December 14, 2020.
Henderson Middle School, Little Rock, AR
Custodian
GROVER GENE CASEY, 48, of Little Rock, passed December 14. Survived by children, Grover Casey Jr., Shawntay Casey, Shawn Casey London Casey, Kanisha Cole and Kepresha Cole; brothers, Ronnie (Sherry) Casey, Willie Casey and Donald Casey; sisters, Corrine Casey and Dorothy Ann Casey; three grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
Greg Petersen, 61
Died October 29, 2020.
Grace Abbott Elementary School, Omaha, NE
Custodian
December 5, 1958 – October 29, 2020
Greg, age 61, died at Lakeside Hospital. He was born in Texas to Lloyd and Geraldine Petersen, and moved with his family to Omaha when he was a baby. He proudly served in the US Army and Army National Guard for 20 years. He worked in IT for most of his life, and then as a custodian at Abbott Elementary. Greg was an active and proud lifetime member of Millard Legion Post #374. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, playing cribbage, cooking, and fixing things at his home and the Post. Survivors include his wife, Lisa; children, Alex and Sara; brothers, Steve (Carol) and Brad; sisters, Kathy and Jeri; other relatives; and many friends. Greg was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Eric “Whizz”; sister-in-law, Elaine; and niece Nicki.
A CELEBRATION of LIFE will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to the family.
Charles Tucker, 42
Died November 16, 2020.
Hoover High School, Hoover, AL
Custodian
After Hoover High School custodian Charles Tucker died last month of COVID-19, teachers, staff and students rallied to raise money for his family.
“This is just a tragedy we never thought would happen,” said his widow, Naretta Johnson-Tucker, who was married to him for five years. “He was a loving guy, had a smile on his face. He could light up the room.”
Staff at Hoover High School started a Go Fund Me account that has raised more than $7,600 of its $10,000 goal. Tucker, who was 42, died on Nov. 16.
“Before he left us he was our friendly and smiling (even behind the mask) custodian,” they wrote in the appeal. He was survived by his wife, a son, 19, and two daughters, they noted. “As a school and community we have decided to gather and help support his family.”
Johnson-Tucker said she was moved by the effort.
“Charles has had so much love from the people he worked with,” she said. “He worked at the school only a year. He had touched so many people. Everybody at the school wanted to do something for him.”
Johnson-Tucker said her husband’s death will profoundly affect her daughter, Shanyiah, 10, a fourth-grader at Glen Iris Elementary School.
“He helped raise my daughter,” Johnson-Tucker said. “He raised her just like she was his own, dropping her off at school, picking her up. He took her to the father-daughter dance. When she was Miss Second Grade, he was there with her. He went to Christmas programs. He played a vital role in her life.”
Tucker received a kidney transplant six years ago at UAB Hospital. “He was doing real good with it,” Johnson-Tucker said.
On Oct. 20, he visited a doctor and tested positive for COVID-19. On Oct. 27, he was admitted to the intensive care unit at UAB Hospital.
“He was doing good,” Johnson-Tucker said. “He made it to a regular floor, then his breathing declined.”
Tucker needed dialysis and his immune system was compromised, she said. He also developed bacterial pneumonia, she said.
“His body just wasn’t responding well,” she said. “He was on a ventilator. They did everything they could for him.”
Even as he lay dying, he remained upbeat, she said. “He was reaching out to everybody,” she said. “He was still in good spirits. He was checking on me and my daughter.”
Johnson-Tucker said she also tested positive for COVID-19 more than three weeks ago and has been struggling to recover.
“I’m still having problems, chest pains,” she said.
She works as a medical assistant at UAB Hospital in the obstetrics department.
“I’ve been blessed so many ways,” she said. “Everybody has really come together and supported me and my daughter. I have a great community.”
Now she faces life as a single mother, after COVID, clinging to memories.
“It’s something you never had yourself prepared for,” she said. “I’m so glad he has this love coming from all directions.”