Marvin Sweeney

Marvin D. (Mert) Sweeney, lifelong resident of Vincennes, passed away at his home on Friday, May 29, 2020. Born on January 1, he was the New Year's baby of 1936. His parents were George and Louise Jones Sweeney, and George had also been born on January 1.Marvin graduated from Lincoln High School in 1954, and spent his freshman year of college at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind, playing football on the varsity team. Changing his major to Civil Engineering, he transferred to Vincennes University and graduated from there in 1956. After studying at Purdue U., he began working as a draftsman at Vincennes Steel, where he became Manager of Sales, spending a total of 26 years there. He then became part-owner and Vice-President of Gen-Steel at Plainville, from where he went to Indiana Steel at Bedford, where he was also Vice-President. His work involved structural steel and many bridges and buildings were built with his input. He took early retirement and enjoyed many years of repairing and maintaining his home and those of his children, working with his hands, which had always given him great pleasure. He and his wife, Valerie Jordan, who had been his high school sweetheart, married on November 22, 1956. One thing they enjoyed doing together was researching family history, travelling locally and in Kentucky, and finally in Ireland, County Donegal, to which they made several trips. He then wrote a family history, "The Sweeney Connection", which he self-published. Copies are in area libraries. He was a history buff, with special interest in Civil War, WW I and WWII periods. Mushroom hunting was always anticipated, and he thoroughly enjoyed participating in sports, although he was not a spectator. He was a doer, not an observer. Above all, his family was his paramount interest. He was a strong, faithful, and loving patriarch, and The Clan reflects that. Memberships include: Northwest Territory Genealogical Society, Sons of the American Revolution, George Rogers Clark Chapter, First Families of Knox County, Elks Club, VU Alumni Association, Indiana Military Museum, and he is listed in the Indiana College Football Hall of Fame. Preceding him in death were his parents and a brother, Donald Sweeney. Surviving him are his wife of sixty-three years, Valerie Jordan, his sons, Matthew Sweeney and wife, Sandra, of Brown Co., Ind., Troy Mark Sweeney and wife, Julie, of Vincennes, and Kevin Luke Sweeney and wife, Diana, of Zionsville, Ind., Grandchildren Jordan Sweeney and wife Sarah of Chicago, Broud Sweeney and wife, Evgenia, of Bellbrook, Ohio, Caitlin Sweeney Miller and husband, Justin, of Brown Co., Ind, Margaret Sweeney Donnell and husband, Brady, of Bedford, Ind., Sarah Sweeney Howard and husband Bailey, of Bloomington, Ind, Lachlan Sweeney and wife Alexa, of Greenwood, Ind., Elizabeth Sweeney Smith and husband, Tyler, of Nashville, Indiana, Logan Sweeney of Bloomington and Brynna Sweeney of Vincennes. Great-grandchildren include Aria, Ella, Ilene, and Olivia Miller; Ailey and Virginia Howard; and Niall Sweeney of Bellbrook, OH., Sister, Linda McKee and husband, Chet, of Princeton, brother-in-law Michael Jordan of Vincennes, and a sister-in-law, Dona Reel Sweeney, of Colorado. There are several nieces, nephews, and cousins, whom he cared for deeply. Marvin was preceded in death by his sister-in-law Norma Jordan. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Indiana Military Museum. A Memorial Service will be at 11:00 am Saturday, August 29, 2020 at Adams Coliseum. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until the service time at Adams Coliseum. Goodwin-Sievers Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Marvin Sweeney.