Lee Swainston, patriarch of the longtime Hopkins family, died Friday, Aug. 20. He was 72.
A 1967 graduate of Byron Center High School, he was a Hopkins area dairy farmer for many years and was co-owner and manager of a hardware store in the village. He and his wife, Mary, longtime community volunteers, were grand marshals of the Hopkins Fourth of July parade in 2018.
A longtime member of the United Church of Wayland, he later joined the Hopkins Community Church.
Swainston worked for local farmers in the area, doing A.I. Services at beef and dairy farms, mowing Hopkins Township cemeteries, and running Lee’s RFD in downtown Hopkins for 22 years. After its closing he continued to work on chainsaws and mowers at home.
Lee could be seen around Hopkins on a lawn mower (aka Big Blue) along with the Coffey grandkids making their way around town mowing the Mill’s lawn and a few others when they needed. Stopping in at CD’s QuickMart, Russo’s, Hop-Cones, Cocktails, Lafayette Creamery, Piki Café, and Main Street Bakery were a few of his favorite to visit with friends.
He was an active member of United Church of Wayland, watched the Hopkins Community Church and Manton United Methodist Church on-line. He was a huge supporter of the community through Hopkins DDA, Allegan County 4-H as a Dairy Leader, Hopkins FFA and Alumni, as well as Hopkins Public School mentorship program.
He is survived by his wife, Mary of 49 years; children, Vicki Swainston, Jill (Owen) Coffey, and Amy Swainston; grandchildren, Jennifer (Dylan) Guillozet, James, Melissa, and Hannah Coffey; great-granddaughter, Daeyln Rose Guillozet; brothers and sisters, Philip (Luanna) Swainston; Milton (Judy) Swainston; Mary Lou Gooding and Lila (Jim) Dodds; sister-in-law: Irene (Arnie) Blain and many close nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Contributions may be made to the Hopkins FFA or Mary Swainston in lieu of flowers. A donation will be made in honor of Lee Swainston’s for the gallon of milk at the Allegan County Fair 2021 to support the dairy kids.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24 and Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Hopkins Community Church, where the memorial service will be held at noon. Luncheon will follow the service.
Private burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.
