Francis David Swanson 1915-2012

SWANSON PETERSEN SMITH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/26/2012 at 12:31:49

Sioux City Journal
July 13, 2012

Francis David Swanson, 96, of Sioux City passed away Tuesday, July 10, 2012, at Touchstone Living Center.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Dann Speichinger officiating. Burial will be in Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home. Condolences may be posted online at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Francis was born on July 30, 1915, in Pomeroy, Iowa, the son of David and Mary (Petersen) Swanson. He grew up on the family farm west of Hinton, Iowa, and pursued a lifelong career in farming. On the side he trucked eggs during World War II in Wisconsin, Duluth, Minn., and in Chicago. He also was a dealer for Nutra-Flo.

On Dec. 31, 1937, he married Thelma A. Smith. She died on Oct. 16, 1991, in Sioux City.

Francis was a member of the Pioneer Tractor Club, the Siouxland Senior Center and the Scandinavian Society. He was a longtime member of Washington Heights Chapel. In earlier years, Francis owned his own plane. In 1968, he went to the Summer Olympics held in Mexico City, Mexico. For many years he enjoyed giving horse-drawn wagon rides at the Plymouth County Fair. Many will remember him as a door greeter for the Golden Ages in Leeds.

Survivors include a son and his wife, Paul and Rita Swanson of Sioux City; a daughter and her husband, Maryanne and Gerald Deibert of Sioux City; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; three nephews; and a niece.

He was preceded in death by his wife; a daughter, Jane Frances McGarry; his parents; and a sister, Ruth Andersen.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be his great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made in his name to Hospice of Siouxland.