Swen Karl Swenson 1919-2000

SWENSON PETERSON HAUGEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/22/2010 at 22:23:33

Onawa Sentinel
3 February 2000

Swen Karl Swenson, 80, of rural Varina, formerly of Storm Lake, Iowa, died Thursday, January 27, 2000, at Buena Vista County Hospital in Storm Lake following a brief illness.

Mr. Swenson was born December 3, 1919, in Soldier, the son of Swen A. and Olena (Peterson) Swenson. He attended school in Soldier.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart Medal with two clusters.

He married Valbor Johanna “Vallie” Haugen on July 10, 1943, in Soldier. The couple moved to Storm Lake in 1958. He was employed as a mechanic with John Deere Implement dealerships in Moorhead, Storm Lake, and Newell, Iowa for over 40 years. Following his retirement, he was employed as a custodian in the Storm Lake School system, retiring in 1981. He and his wife then began a yard odd jobs and snow removal business, retiring again in 1993. They then moved to rural Varina.

He was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, American Legion D.W. Steiner Post 588 and Storm Lake Horseshoe Club. He enjoyed playing cards, fishing and gardening.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Swen Jr. and Richard and his wife, Lucy, all of DesMoines; five daughters and their husbands, Sandy and Renny Wagener of Ankeny, Iowa, Lenora and Bob Libolt of Storm Lake, Sallie and Duane Leibhart of Adel, Iowa, Ila and Richard Chapman of Aurora, Ne and Connie and John Demers of Storm Lake; a son-in-law, Vernon Banks of Ankeny; twelve grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Clifford Swenson of Moorhead; a sister and her husband, Lillian and Art Price of Council Bluffs, Iowa and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Virginia Banks; a granddaughter, Penny Swenson, two brothers, Andy and Harold, and a sister, Gladys Hustad.

Services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 31, 2000 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake with the Rev. Mark Youngquist officiating. Burial was at 3:30 p.m. Monday, January 31, 2000 in Soldier Lutheran Cemetery, rural Soldier, Iowa with military rites conducted by American Legion D.W. Steiner Post 588 of Varina.

Arrangements were by Fratzke Funeral Home in Storm Lake.

A memorial fund has been established at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake.