SWANSON, Glen E. 1932-2007
SWANSON, MIXDORF, BLOBAUM, KIMBALL, WHITE, WOODARD
Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 11/2/2018 at 19:42:42
WAVERLY, IOWA - Glen E. Swanson, 74, of Waverly, died Friday, Aug. 17, [2007], at his home in Waverly, of complications from lung cancer.
He was born Nov. 5, 1932, in Fairbank, son of Ralph and Margaret Woodard Swanson. He married Margaret E. Mixdorf Jan. 14, 1956, at First Lutheran Church, Waterloo.
Mr. Swanson graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1950. He received a BA (art) degree at Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) at Cedar Falls in 1954.
During the summers while in college, he proudly became the third generation railroader in his family, working as a freight brakeman on the Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern interurban line. He also operated the old Waterloo Streetcar #381 for one week, while the regular motorman was on vacation. He later mused that his timid negotiation over the rickety track and resulting delays to train schedules hastened the demise of WCF&N's passenger service.
After college, Mr. Swanson enlisted in the U.S. Army and served until Nov. 30, 1956, as a Battery Clerk of the 376th, earning a Parachutist badge and Good Conduct Medal. He returned to the State College of Iowa (UNI) to earn an MA (art) in 1963.
He began a long career of and dedication to teaching art at Hampton, Iowa (grades 1-12) from 1957 to 1963. He moved on to Waverly to teach art to grades 3-6 at Waverly-Shell Rock for the next 21 years. He taught at Wartburg College, Waverly, for two summers, 1973-74.
Mr. Swanson was an avid potter, selling his work at his annual art sale, and exhibiting extensively in Iowa. He also served as Potter In Residence at the Waterloo Arts & Recreation Center in 1972, and South Bear Creek School (Decorah) in 1975-76. One of his proud projects was the purchase, move, and rebuilding of a 125-year-old log cabin north of Decorah in the 1970s.
He suffered a stroke in 1984, which forced him into retirement. In his later years, Mr. Swanson enjoyed tinkering with old cars (his beloved mopars, and a 1937 Ford), caring for his loving family, putting together puzzles, and taking care of a wooded acreage property near Waverly.
He is survived by his wife; a son, Paul of Janesville, Wis.; a daughter, Ann (Al) Tutje of Bolingbrook, Ill.; a grandchild, Alyssa Tutje; a brother, George (Jackie) of Salt Lake City, Utah; a sister, Leota Kimball of Waterloo; brothers and sisters-in-law; Bill (Marion) Mixdorf, Melvin Blobaum, Fred (Ruth) White, Marino (Marlys) Melsted and Frank (Carol) Mixdorf; and 21 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Blobaum; a brother-in-law, DeWayne Kimball; and a niece, Sue Ellen White.
Visitation will be held at Locke Funeral Home, Waterloo, from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Services will be held at the Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery chapel Wednesday at 11 a.m. with burial immediately following. A luncheon will be held at the George Warren Clubhouse at the Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course, Waterloo, after burial.
The family asks that cards and letters be mailed in lieu of phone calls. Memorials may be made to Cedar Valley Hospice, the UNI Foundation for Art, and St. Paul's Lutheran School in Waverly in lieu of flowers.
Condolences may be left at www.LockeFuneralHome.com .
SOURCE: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
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NOTE: See photos of his two plaques, at Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery, on GPP.
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