Gary M. Swanbeck, 58, of 424 E. Midland Ave., Ironwood, died unexpectedly early Tuesday morning, Aug. 18, 2009,  in his parent's home in Ironwood.      He was born April 18, 1951, in Ironwood, son of Herbert and Elaine (Leinonen) Swanbeck, attended Newport Grade School, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1970.      Gary worked at the Illinois Glove Factory in Ironwood for a short time, and was employed at Kodiak Corporation in Erwin Township and Ironwood Products for several years. For the past 24 years, he was employed in housekeeping for Big Powderhorn Lodging Association.      Gary loved flowers and was an avid gardener. He also loved shopping and spending quality time with family, friends and neighbors. Most of all, he was a caring, helpful person who loved people, and will be dearly missed by all .      Surviving are his parents, Herb and Elaine Swanbeck, of Ironwood; two sisters, Cherie DeRizzo, Ironwood Township, and Colleen (Cookie) Laguna, Montreal, Wis.; two nieces, Tracy (Chris) Traczyk, Ironwood Township, and Sheri (Brian) Harten, Anchorage, Alaska; three nephews, Danny DeRizzo (Amanda), Tomahawk, Wis., and Brad Schulze and Gary Laguna, both of Hurley; two great-nieces, Danielle and Kali Traczyk; one great-nephew, Mason Schulze; and numerous special friends and neighbors.      Gary was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Dan DeRizzo, on May 9, 1996.      Funeral services will be held Friday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Gerald Anderson, pastor of Sharon Lutheran Church in Bessemer, officiating.      Committal will take place at the funeral home, with luncheon to follow at the Iron Nugget in downtown Hurley.      Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood.      Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service on Friday.      To view Gary's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.