Marlin Duane Swenson 1934-2008
LINDROTH, SWENSON, MIENE, MARTIN, BAADE, KAESER, LIVINGOOD, RUCKDASCHEL
Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 5/29/2008 at 13:02:59
Marlin Duane Swenson
Marlin Swenson passed away Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at his home on Jackson Hollow Drive, Postville at the age of 73 years, seven months, and 27 days. Funeral services were held Saturday, February 16 at St. John Lutheran Church, Luana, with the Reverend Christopher Staley officiating. Special music was provided by Pastor Staley.
Casketbearers were Luke Baade, Hall "Buddy" Swenson (Jr.), Eric Dotseth, Trent Miene, Linda Zuercher, Kay Imoehl and Ricky Vazquez. Honorary casketbearers were Sam Bacon, Dennis Soride, Marcus Wettleson, Dan Martins, Curt Kraus, Virgil Lenth and Kenneth "Dale" Sweet. Burial was in the Minert Cemetery, rural Postville. The Schutte Funeral & Cremation Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements.
Marlin Duane Swenson was born June 16, 1934, to Hall Leroy and Florence (Lindroth) Swenson, at the hospital in Postville. He was baptized August 19, 1934 and confirmed July 4, 1948, both at St. John Lutheran Church in Luana. Marlin attended the Cherry Valley rural school and Luana High School. He also received flight training at Aviation Training Enterprises in Chicago, IL, the Crystal Flight School in Crystal, MN, and DuPage County Aviation of West Chicago, IL.
June 25, 1961 he was married to Erma Jean Miene in St. Paul Lutheran Church at Postville. To this union two daughters were born.
After serving in the Army from 1955 to 1957, he moved to New Brighton, MN, where he worked for Brown Truck and Trailer Company. He purchased an aircraft and learned to fly, a career that lasted 50 years. In 1978 Marlin received the highest Federal Aviation Administration rating of Airline Transport Pilot.
In 1958 Marlin returned to Iowa and worked for Loren Leas in construction and the Luana Creamery. In 1961 he purchased a can milk route which he operated for six years and at the same time he started a hog and beef farming operation, which lasted for 37 years.
In 1979 he and his wife, Erma, established Air Transport Services, Inc. for which Marlin was the operator and chief pilot for 25 years. He was a Flight Instructor for 34 years and ended his flying career as a contract carrier for UPS. He was employed for ten years in the transportation department of the Isle of Capri at Marquette.
Marlin loved to fly out west to hunt elk, antelope, and pheasant, and to Canada to fish. He established habitat for the pheasants by planting trees, grasses and putting out food plates. He loved to watch the wildlife as they came to feed. Another interest of Marlin's was to teach the grandchildren to trap shoot. He loved their trips abroad, especially to Australia and most of Europe, which they did for more than 30 years.
Marlin is survived by his wife, Erma Jean; two daughters, Ronda (Dennis) Martin of DeForest, WI and Sabrina Swenson of Washington, D.C.; four grandchildren, Sadie, Luke, and Paige Baade, and Pharis Martin; brothers and sisters, Lavon Kaeser of Waukon, Verdon "Bud" Swenson of Postville, Joann (Les) Livingood of Lansing, and Lane (Sharon) Swenson of Postville; an aunt, Florence Ruckdaschel of Decorah; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister-in-law, Mary Swenson; and a brother-in-law, Gordon Kaeser.
Marlin was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luana, where he served on the Church Council. He was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association since 1960, Iowa Flying Farmers, Allamakee County Sportsman Club, Pheasants Forever, and a Life Member of the American Hunting Club and of the AMVETS.
The Waukon Standard, Wednesday, February 20, 2008
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Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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