Alan R. Swenson October 16, 1931 – January 6, 2020

October 16, 1931 – January 6, 2020

Alan R. Swenson, 88, Thompson, passed away Monday, Jan. 6, 2020 at Timely Mission Nursing Home, Buffalo Center. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, Bethany Lutheran Church, Thompson, with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Visitation will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, at Bethany Lutheran Church and will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Thompson, with military honors by the Otto Chose American Legion Post #235 from Lake Mills. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be directed to the American Diabetes Association or to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Alan Russell Swenson was born Oct. 16, 1931 in rural Winnebago County, to parents Adolph Sr. and Rose (Hill) Swenson. He was baptized into the Lutheran faith, attended country school and graduated from Thompson High School.
After graduation, Alan was inducted into the United States Army on Dec. 5, 1952 in Des Moines and served until he was honorably discharged Sept. 6, 1954. Alan moved back to North Iowa to help his dad farm and met a young lady named Sharon Olson at Waldorf College, Forest City. The two were united in marriage June 28, 1958 in Stanhope, recently celebrating their 61st wedding anniversary.
The couple was blessed with two daughters: Kimberly and Tammy. Their family made a home farming in rural Thompson until the late 1960’s. At that time, Alan and Sharon moved into Thompson with the girls and Alan began his career as a phone technician with WCTA, retiring when he was 62 years old.
Alan had hobbies and interests in things such as woodworking (making frames, clocks and shelves), collecting diecast tractors, tinkering with his cars, listening to bluegrass music, and camping.  Alan and Sharon enjoyed camping as a family and when they retired.  They took family vacations yearly to places such as Wyoming, Colorado, and the Black Hills.  That wonderful tradition continued, taking their children and grandchildren to Mount Rushmore in celebration of their 40th wedding anniversary.  Alan and Sharon were so proud of the family with which they were blessed, and Alan will be missed by them all.
Survivors include his wife Sharon, Thompson; two daughters: Kimberly (Harlen) McGuire, Stanley, N.C.; and Tammy Swenson (Tim Rieffer), Lakota; four grandchildren: Christopher McGuire, Asheville, N.C.; Curtis McGuire, Stanley, N.C.; Tyler (Stacy) Koeneke, Garner; and Dallas (Marissa) Koeneke, Cabot, Ark.; nine great-grandchildren Annabelle, Ashley, Emmett, Emma, Brody, Olivia, Jude, Eli and Micah; two brothers: Dick (Ardis) Swenson and Adolph Jr. (Anne) Swenson, all of Thompson; as well as many extended relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph Sr. and Rose; a brother, Don Swenson; and an infant sister, Betty Ann Swenson.

Lake Mills Graphic

204 N. Mill Street
Lake Mills, IA 50450

Office Number: (641) 592-4222
Fax Number: (641) 592-6397

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