Donna Jean Swigers

September 10, 1947 – April 19, 2025

Donna Jean Swigers was born in Chicago, IL on September 10, 1947, to Mary B and Bernard Schaik where she became the younger sister to Diane. Soon after, the Schaik family moved to Lafayette, IN, where Donna spent her childhood growing up.

While in Lafayette, Donna attended Central Catholic High School, which continued to give her a lifelong love of the Lord. She was a cheerleader, a city doubles tennis champion, performed in musicals and plays, and loved to sing in harmonies with her sister Diane.

Donna then went on to attend Purdue University, earning a Sociology Degree, and became an Alpha Chi sorority sister. Donna helped pay for her school expenses by working at Gluck’s and The Fashion in Lafyette, where her passion for sales and working with people ignited for her future career.

After graduating from Purdue in 1969, Donna moved to Cincinnati to live with her sister Diane and started working at Shillito’s Department Store. Donna became a jewelry buyer and helped Shillito’s become one of the first department stores in the nation to offer ear piercings. This ignited Donna’s love for sales, customer engagement, and all things fashion and jewelry.

Donna was promoted to Vice President of marketing and merchandising for the company “1928.” She then moved to California in 1974 and co-founded her own sterling silver jewelry company, Tandem. As President and Jewelry designer, Donna traveled all over the country and internationally selling and promoting Tandem. A defining career highlight for Donna was the acquisition of Tandem, which she sold to Hallmark in 1978. She then went on to become the Corporate Sale Manager for Sequel International and was responsible for Far East Duty Free, and later the luxury end of Guess Collection Watches.

It was that travel and career that would introduce her to many lifelong friends as well, as her future husband, David. Donna and David Swigers were married November 28, 1992, in Lafayette, IN. They shared a love for the Lord, travel, their dogs, and each other. They spent the next 33 years enjoying traveling the world, spending time with friends and family, hosting dinner parties, and caring for their dogs who brought them great joy. Donna was a proud 32-year breast cancer survivor whose strength and optimism became a beacon of hope for others. She was deeply committed to raising awareness and providing heartfelt support to those facing the disease, including her beloved sister, Diane.

Over the past serval years, Donna also bravely faced her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but never lost her joyful and often playful spirit, and always shared her beautiful loving smile. On Holy Saturday April 19, 2025, she went home to meet the Lord.

Donna was proceeded in death by her husband David Swigers, sister Diane Schneider, and parents Mary and Bernie Schaik. She is survived by her nephew Jeffrey Schneider, niece Donna Hutchins (Scott, children Benjamin and Hannah), cousins in Chicago, many friends, and countless lives touched.