Obituary of John F. Swenson

John F. Swenson, 88, died Saturday, April 27, 2019.

He was born in Payne, MN to Anna & John, Sr. He attended Meadowlands School, grades 1 through 12. John began working for the DM&IR Railroad in 1948 and retired in January 1986. He worked in numerous positions, retiring as a Mechanical Supervisor, Iron Range Division.

John married Jean Lanthier on September 15, 1951. They lived in Duluth and Homecroft where they raised their family, then moved to Lake Eshquagama, returning to Duluth in 2012 and were currently living at Primrose.

He spent 2 years in the U.S. Army Combat Engineering Battalion, 18 months of which were spent in Germany.

John belonged to Lutheran Churches in each place that he lived, Arnold Lutheran, where he served as a member of the Board, Gethsemane in Virginia, French River Lutheran and Holy Cross of Duluth.

John was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a member of Roy's Antler Lodge of Payne, which he shared with his close hunting buddies and family. John and Jean had many happy memories of fishing, tenting and camping with family and friends.

They enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico and spent the winter months in Garden City, S.C., enjoying a condo on the beach.

John was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Virginia (Bill), Violet (Dan), Ruby (Nick), Betty (Oscar) and brother, William.

He is survived by his wife, Jean; children, Jan (Mark) Jonassen, John, Jr. (Linda), Richard (Teri); grandchildren, Jen, John III, Lindze, Erik, Heather, Kevin, Jamie, Sarah, Mike, Sam, Paul; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Wyatt, Stasia, Joe, Nate, Ali, Emmee, Eli, Izzy; brother, Gus (Sharon) and sisters, Emma (Eino), Mary and Margie.

Memorial are preferred to the Bright Focus Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksburg, MD 20871.

Gathering of family and friends from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. celebration of John's Life, Saturday, May 4th at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, North 410 Arlington Ave, Duluth, MN.