SWANSON, Fred (1924-2012)

SWANSON

Posted By: Don Boucher (email)
Date: 6/28/2012 at 11:04:07

Obituary from The Des Moines Register newspaper, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA on 6-28-2012:

Fred Swanson, the son of Earl and Sylvia (Richardson) Swanson was born on June 7, 1924 in Kelly, Iowa. He graduated from White Oak High School in 1944. A veteran of WWII, Fred fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

On August 12, 1948, Fred was united in marriage with Ramona Battles. He worked for the Maytag Company for 30 years and was a UAW Local 997 member as well as a lifetime member of the VFW. Upon retirement from Maytag, he delivered flowers for Larchwood Florist and served as a school crossing guard. Sports played an important part in Fred's life. He was an all-state basketball player in 1944. An avid baseball fan, Fred coached his sons' Little League and Babe Ruth teams, and umpired for 20 years. He was inducted into the Newton High School Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011, along with his sons, Doug and Gary. He was a St. Louis Cardinals and Iowa Hawkeye fan. Fred attended Community Heights Alliance Church in Newton.

Fred died at home on June 25, 2012. He was 88 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Marilyn Anderson, and brother-in-law, Royal Battles.

Those left to honor Fred's memory include his wife, Ramona; sons, Doug (Lenette) Swanson of Newton and Gary (Geri) Swanson of Concord, North Carolina; brother, Don Swanson of Springfield, Missouri; sister, Minnie (Bob) Etter of Melcher Dallas and grandchildren, Jessica, Theresa (Ryan) Comer, Joe, (fiancee, Heather Altemeier), all of Newton and Carly and Kelly Swanson of Concord, North Carolina.

No memorial services will be held at Fred and Ramona's request.