Chester J. (Chet) Swier Obituary

Chester J. (Chet) Swier
Beloved Husband, Father, and Grandfather

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Chester J. (Chet) Swier, 90 of 4778 Prospect Street, Cuba, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2011.

Born October 28, 1920 in Kenmore, NY to Frank and Sabina Nikiel Swierczynski, he graduated from Kenmore High in 1936, and attended Buffalo State Teacher's College where he was a starting forward on the men's basketball team his freshman year. He studied art at the Albright Knox Art Gallery under the tutelage of renowned artist Rix Jennings.

In 1944, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, enrolled in Officers' Training School in Greenwich, Ct. Chet honorably served his country as a P-51 pilot with the 77th Fighter Squadron flying bomber support over Europe out of King's Cliff Air Force Base in England. Following many successful missions, his plane was shot down and he was captured by German soldiers, escaping with fellow officers while being marched to a prison camp in Nuremberg, eventually making their way to England. After returning to the US aboard the Queen Mary, he became a member of the Niagara Falls Air Force Reserves, retiring with the rank Lt. Colonel.

A teaching position brought him to Cuba, where he met and married the love of his life, Donalyn Perry. They were married for 62 years and raised three children, Cynthia (Daniel) Massey of Jamestown, Susan (Kim) Hillman of Cuba, and Gregory (Paula) Swier of Olean. Chet taught art at Cuba Central School for 31 years, inspiring thousands of students, many of whom have gone on to successful art-related careers.

Chet was a member of the Cuba First Baptist Church for more than 50 years. He was a respected member of the American Watercolor Society, the Niagara Falls Watercolor Society, the Olean Art Association, and numerous others.

Surviving in addition to his wife and children are seven grandchildren, Nikiel Stanbro (Kenneth Hand), Chelsea (Stuart) Segrest, Aubrey Hillman, Colston Hillman and Victoria Swier, Jennifer (Matt) Richardson, Thomas (Cindy) Massey; great-grand-children Austin Murphy and Addison Massey; his sister Lorraine Penksa, sisters-in-law Helen Swier, and Stephania Swierczynski both of Buffalo, sister-in-law Martha Guild of Erie, Pa, sister and brother-in-law Alice and Richard Stolberg of Cuba, sisters-in-law Donna Perry of Portville, LuLu Perry of Wellsville, and his cousin Chester (Chet) Burgher of North Carolina, as well as many dear nieces, nephews and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Edward and Eugene, an infant sister Irene, brothers-in-law Anthony Penksa, Gordon, Norbert and Wendell Perry, John Guild, cousin Sara Piner Burgher, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and his dear friend and fellow POW, R.M. (Mac) Aylsworth.

He recognized the beauty in people and leaves a legacy of his appreciation of nature's beauty through his many paintings. He was dearly loved by many.

The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church, 17 South Street, Cuba, on Friday, March 11, 2011 from 2-4 P.M. at which time funeral services will be held. The Rev. Larry A. Poelma, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Cuba Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations or memorials may be made to The First Baptist Church of Cuba, Hospice of Chautauqua County, the Cattaraugus-Allegany Joint Veteran's Council, or a charity of the donor's choice.

Arrangements are under direction of the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., Cuba.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the button below.