Leslie Lynn (Von Behren) Swartz went home on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Leslie was born September 1, 1969, in Anamosa, Iowa, to proud parents, Paul and Linda. Her first four years were spent in Ames, Iowa, while Dad finished his DVM at Iowa State University. She became proud big sister to her brother, Aaron, in 1972.
Though it may be hard for some to understand, Leslie accepted Christ at three years of age. Children can be persuaded — but they are also genuine. The change in her temperament was immediate. She became a living example of a truth worth passing on: “Wouldn’t it be like a loving God to make the most important thing so simple, even a child could do it?”
Even with many family moves, Leslie’s smile, curly hair, outgoing personality and ability to fit in helped her adapt and make friends easily. She graduated from Fremont High School. Her love of music included French horn and piano, leading her to a summer tour with the Continentals, a Christian music ministry outreach. Always independent, she was not bothered by being away from home or the adventure of international travel.
A love for children led her to families in Boston and Omaha, where she served as a nanny. But Leslie’s natural aptitude for medicine drew her first to earn her EMT certification, then to Creighton University to certify as a paramedic. As opportunities arose, she also worked in hospital labs, health counseling, insurance and related medical fields.
She married Robert Taylor of Fremont in 1996 and was blessed to be “Mom” to Megan Taylor (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) and Allison Taylor of Fremont. They were later divorced.
In 2011, Leslie married Greg Swartz of Fullerton. Leslie had fond memories of her times on the farm with her grandparents and it seems both marriages — to farmers — were shaped by the life she had come to love.
Her greatest challenge was her health. Over the decades, those challenges only increased. But there was never a complaint. She endured her life with courage and strength, passing quietly into the Lord’s hands.
She is survived by her husband, Greg; parents, Paul and Linda; daughters, Megan and Allison Taylor; her sister-in-law, Amy; and many beloved family and friends.
Leslie was preceded in death by three sets of loving grandparents and her brother, Aaron.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2026 at the Fremont Alliance Church. The memorial service will be 10 a.m. Friday, April 10 at the Fremont Alliance Church. Memorials maybe directed to the Music Ministry at the Fremont Alliance Church or the Fremont Evangelical Free Church.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com