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Charles Swikert was born on 8 September 1899 in Bloomingdale, Michigan, the son of Frank Swikert and Laura Burlingham. He married Verda Williamson on 25 October 1922, and died on 7 August 1986 in South Bend, Indiana, at age 86.
He was a prolific and enthusiastic poet. Almost all of his poems were written to celebrate events, like anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, etc. Because we have so many, they've been divided into the following categories.
- Family -- Poems for family members' birthdays, new babies, holidays, etc.
- Merry-Go-Round Club -- Poems for the annual Christmas party of the Merry-Go-Round Club, a women's social club his wife Verda and daughter Ruth belonged to.
- Florida -- Poems for various friends and occasions at the El Camba mobile home park in Florida, where he and his wife Verda spent many winters.
- Masonic Lodge -- Poems for friends in the Council Oak Masonic Lodge.
- Reunions -- Poems written for family reunions.
- Miscellaneous -- Poems on a variety of subjects.