MONROE - When Dennis Swank had three young daughters at home, life could be hectic and, some might even say, dramatic at times.
But they all found comfort after a bad day when Dad would pull them aside, get down to their level, and tell each of them on separate occasions: "You know, I kind of like you the best."
Those sweet words from Dad worked for years - until one day, while they were all together, the truth came out. That Christmas, they all showed up in T-shirts that read: "Dad liked me the best."
It's a story Swank has shared plenty of times, and one his daughter even disclosed several years ago in a contest, winning her $500. It shows the kindness and even disposition shared by the father of the girls, who sometimes needed quick solutions.
"It worked for me and my family," Swank said. "But I don't recommend it."
Swank has found the sweet spot of making others feel special in different aspects of his life as well. He spent his career alongside his wife, took on an active role in the American Legion and still works to improve the organization. He said it's been just one of the many things in life he's found deeply fulfilling.
Swank was born in Rockford, Illinois, and stayed there until first grade when the family moved to Freeport, where he grew up. Like many, he said he was part of a neighborhood group of children who played baseball and rode bicycles with little concern about the world that surrounded them.
Swank attended St. Mary School in Freeport through junior high. He had three uncles who served in World War II, and was interested in the war at an early age. He recalls often playing war games with a close friend in Freeport.
After one year at Aquin High School in Freeport, Swank attended Freeport High School, where he graduated. He was on the track team for a couple years and soon after his graduation in 1960, he signed himself up for the service.
He said he hadn't planned to join, but when his best friend signed on with the Navy, he went to enlist. He wasn't comfortable with water, so he then made his way to the Army office, and signed the papers immediately.
"My mom wouldn't sign the papers for me," he said. "But she didn't have to."
Swank said as an 18-year-old, he thought he knew it all. But he said he learned more at Army orientation and then at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
"I never heard such yelling in my life," Swank said. "The sergeants assured us we knew nothing, and they would teach us - and they did."
After four months of basic training, Swank said he prepared to become a supply person for the 25th Infantry Division. When he finished, they sent him to Hawaii, where one of his uncles was still stationed for a short time.
"It was a fun experience," Swank said. "No one was shooting at us."
He worked at the General Army Hospital as a Corporal for the Medical Supply Unit. He serviced all the hospitals with supplies and large medical equipment.
He was only supposed to be in Hawaii for 13 months, but the Cuban Missile Crisis began and he served a full, three-year tour. Although Hawaii was beautiful, Swank said he only thought about staying in the service for a short time. He hoped to get back to Lilas, who he was writing to back home, and who would soon become his wife.
Once he was back in Freeport, Swank landed a job through a friend at the dry cleaner, where he worked for a few years. He said from there he worked at a few other jobs he enjoyed, but eventually, decided he wanted to be his own boss. He started his own business where he worked light construction, and eventually, Lilas joined him.
The couple worked well together, Swank said, and they moved to northern Wisconsin for a while, but sold the business to be closer to home. Swank said both he and Lilas, who had grown up in Freeport, visited Monroe often in their childhood. He recalled Sunday drives to Maple Grove Restaurant after church for chicken dinner and often to Baumgartner's with his Dad for a brick cheese sandwich. These memories returned while deciding where they would live, and Monroe seemed the perfect fit.
Their business did well and soon he and Lilas landed a few projects with Monroe Clinic, and they were then hired on as permanent contractors. It's where they spent their last 13 years before their retirement.
"They were good to us," Swank said of the Monroe Clinic and hospital. "To this day, I miss the camaraderie. It was like the service. Once you're in, you'll do anything for each other."
Swank said after moving to Monroe, he became heavily involved in the American Legion. He's been involved for several years, and served as commander for three years until recently, when he passed the torch. He's still in position as Past Commander.
Swank first helped with what he knew - getting the place fixed up and painted. He said he was happy to dive in when he saw so many veterans from World War II getting older, unable to help as much.
"I did a few good things," he said.
He took part in the Honor Guard, and now leads the group that performs at all military funerals requested in and around Monroe. For a long time, they had World War II rifles that were hard to handle for some members. Swank got them updated to M1 semi-automatic rifles, which has helped with involvement.
The reason he joined later in life, he said, is that he was never asked.
"I didn't know much about it," Swank said. "I started and for many years I wasn't active. As work slowed down and I got ready to retire, I could do more."
The couple has three daughters and Swank laughs when thinking back to the days of having three teenage girls in the house - claiming it's the reason he's now bald.
"That's not really true," he said. "They're my joy."
Swank loves to spend time with his five grandchildren and is especially proud of his grandson, Chad, a West Point graduate, who has served in Afghanistan and Germany.
To relax, although he says he doesn't do it enough, Swank finds solace in fishing. He loves to go with family, and enjoys some friendly competition catching catfish at night on the Mississippi River. He also enjoys his "man cave" in the basement of their 1890s home, and said although the Legion takes time, it's satisfying to be a part of it.
He brought Bingo back to the Legion and enjoys working monthly to verify cards. He's hoping for young people to join and bring new ideas as well.
"We can't stress enough how much we'd like to see more people come in," he said.
Swank said he hopes one day everyone can see veterans as people they can walk up to, trust and feel comfortable with. That's been his experience, and he desires others to see that side of things. He feels proud the group is being included and asked more and more to be involved in community events.
"To really know the camaraderie, you have to have been in the service," he said. "But everyone is welcome to come here as a go-to place for whatever reason."
Swank and Lilas enjoy day trips and visiting with family. He's grateful his wife helps behind the scenes, he said, and is great with the computer, sewing and many other things. He's proud to say they'll be married 54 years in November.
"We've been so happy with Monroe," he said. "It's the place to be for us."
But they all found comfort after a bad day when Dad would pull them aside, get down to their level, and tell each of them on separate occasions: "You know, I kind of like you the best."
Those sweet words from Dad worked for years - until one day, while they were all together, the truth came out. That Christmas, they all showed up in T-shirts that read: "Dad liked me the best."
It's a story Swank has shared plenty of times, and one his daughter even disclosed several years ago in a contest, winning her $500. It shows the kindness and even disposition shared by the father of the girls, who sometimes needed quick solutions.
"It worked for me and my family," Swank said. "But I don't recommend it."
Swank has found the sweet spot of making others feel special in different aspects of his life as well. He spent his career alongside his wife, took on an active role in the American Legion and still works to improve the organization. He said it's been just one of the many things in life he's found deeply fulfilling.
Swank was born in Rockford, Illinois, and stayed there until first grade when the family moved to Freeport, where he grew up. Like many, he said he was part of a neighborhood group of children who played baseball and rode bicycles with little concern about the world that surrounded them.
Swank attended St. Mary School in Freeport through junior high. He had three uncles who served in World War II, and was interested in the war at an early age. He recalls often playing war games with a close friend in Freeport.
After one year at Aquin High School in Freeport, Swank attended Freeport High School, where he graduated. He was on the track team for a couple years and soon after his graduation in 1960, he signed himself up for the service.
He said he hadn't planned to join, but when his best friend signed on with the Navy, he went to enlist. He wasn't comfortable with water, so he then made his way to the Army office, and signed the papers immediately.
"My mom wouldn't sign the papers for me," he said. "But she didn't have to."
Swank said as an 18-year-old, he thought he knew it all. But he said he learned more at Army orientation and then at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
"I never heard such yelling in my life," Swank said. "The sergeants assured us we knew nothing, and they would teach us - and they did."
After four months of basic training, Swank said he prepared to become a supply person for the 25th Infantry Division. When he finished, they sent him to Hawaii, where one of his uncles was still stationed for a short time.
"It was a fun experience," Swank said. "No one was shooting at us."
He worked at the General Army Hospital as a Corporal for the Medical Supply Unit. He serviced all the hospitals with supplies and large medical equipment.
He was only supposed to be in Hawaii for 13 months, but the Cuban Missile Crisis began and he served a full, three-year tour. Although Hawaii was beautiful, Swank said he only thought about staying in the service for a short time. He hoped to get back to Lilas, who he was writing to back home, and who would soon become his wife.
Once he was back in Freeport, Swank landed a job through a friend at the dry cleaner, where he worked for a few years. He said from there he worked at a few other jobs he enjoyed, but eventually, decided he wanted to be his own boss. He started his own business where he worked light construction, and eventually, Lilas joined him.
The couple worked well together, Swank said, and they moved to northern Wisconsin for a while, but sold the business to be closer to home. Swank said both he and Lilas, who had grown up in Freeport, visited Monroe often in their childhood. He recalled Sunday drives to Maple Grove Restaurant after church for chicken dinner and often to Baumgartner's with his Dad for a brick cheese sandwich. These memories returned while deciding where they would live, and Monroe seemed the perfect fit.
Their business did well and soon he and Lilas landed a few projects with Monroe Clinic, and they were then hired on as permanent contractors. It's where they spent their last 13 years before their retirement.
"They were good to us," Swank said of the Monroe Clinic and hospital. "To this day, I miss the camaraderie. It was like the service. Once you're in, you'll do anything for each other."
Swank said after moving to Monroe, he became heavily involved in the American Legion. He's been involved for several years, and served as commander for three years until recently, when he passed the torch. He's still in position as Past Commander.
Swank first helped with what he knew - getting the place fixed up and painted. He said he was happy to dive in when he saw so many veterans from World War II getting older, unable to help as much.
"I did a few good things," he said.
He took part in the Honor Guard, and now leads the group that performs at all military funerals requested in and around Monroe. For a long time, they had World War II rifles that were hard to handle for some members. Swank got them updated to M1 semi-automatic rifles, which has helped with involvement.
The reason he joined later in life, he said, is that he was never asked.
"I didn't know much about it," Swank said. "I started and for many years I wasn't active. As work slowed down and I got ready to retire, I could do more."
The couple has three daughters and Swank laughs when thinking back to the days of having three teenage girls in the house - claiming it's the reason he's now bald.
"That's not really true," he said. "They're my joy."
Swank loves to spend time with his five grandchildren and is especially proud of his grandson, Chad, a West Point graduate, who has served in Afghanistan and Germany.
To relax, although he says he doesn't do it enough, Swank finds solace in fishing. He loves to go with family, and enjoys some friendly competition catching catfish at night on the Mississippi River. He also enjoys his "man cave" in the basement of their 1890s home, and said although the Legion takes time, it's satisfying to be a part of it.
He brought Bingo back to the Legion and enjoys working monthly to verify cards. He's hoping for young people to join and bring new ideas as well.
"We can't stress enough how much we'd like to see more people come in," he said.
Swank said he hopes one day everyone can see veterans as people they can walk up to, trust and feel comfortable with. That's been his experience, and he desires others to see that side of things. He feels proud the group is being included and asked more and more to be involved in community events.
"To really know the camaraderie, you have to have been in the service," he said. "But everyone is welcome to come here as a go-to place for whatever reason."
Swank and Lilas enjoy day trips and visiting with family. He's grateful his wife helps behind the scenes, he said, and is great with the computer, sewing and many other things. He's proud to say they'll be married 54 years in November.
"We've been so happy with Monroe," he said. "It's the place to be for us."