Swanson, Karen M. (Mrs. Swan J.) 1862-1944

SWANSON, JENSEN

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

Source: Hawarden Independent (3-30-1944)

Born: September 14, 1862
Died: March 22, 1944

Mrs. Swan J. Swanson passed away at 6:10 last Wednesday evening, March 22, following an illness of about three months. Early in January she contracted the flu and the complication that followed caused her death.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church in Ireton at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon, with Reverend Fred Grantham in charge. Interment was in Grace Hill Cemetery. The pallbearers were William Taylor, Merle Simons, Bert Fritz, Frank Wells, Clyde Wills and Ernest Gandy.

Karen Margaret Jensen, one of twelve children of John and Marie Jansen, was born in Fym, Denmark, September 14, 1862. She was united in marriage with Swan J. Swanson at Tammerup, Denmark, May 17, 1889. To this union were born ten children, five of whom preceded her in death. In 1904, the family came to this community and lived here continuously since that time, except three years in South Dakota.

She is survived by her husband and five children: Hans at home, John of Chicago, Emil of Des Moines and Mrs. John Otron and Mrs. Henry Ronsiek of Hawarden. She also leaves nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She had been married 55 years and five years ago the celebration of their golden wedding was a happy event in the life of the couple.

Early in infancy she was baptized in the Lutheran Faith, but shortly after she came to America she was united with the Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Missionary Society and the Women’s Society of Christian Service and was a faithful member and a consistent worker in the church. She was a charter member of the Bertram Post of the American Legion Auxiliary. The happiest moments of her life were those spent with her own family to whom she was always and altogether devoted.