Elmer O. Swanson

Funeral Services for Elmer O.  Swanson 96 of Fort Dodge, Iowa will be Thursday, April 16, 2015                           at 12:00 p.m. at the Historic Bruce Funeral Home in Fort Dodge with the Rev.  Barbara Strumbo  officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by the Fort Dodge V.F.W. and the Iowa National Guard  will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be Thursday,  10:30 a.m. until time of services. Elmer died Monday, April 13, 2015 at Bickford Assisted Living in Fort Dodge.

Elmer Olaf Swanson was born April 2, 1919 in Russell, Minnesota to Olaf and Minnie (Christensen) Swanson. He was the fifth of thirteen children.   Elmer grew up on a farm in Southwest Minnesota.  Leaving home at a very early age he traveled to Iowa where he worked for several area farmers until being hired at Tobins Packing Plant. He was united in marriage to Donna Mae Jacobson on June 29, 1941 in Fort Dodge.  To this union three children were born, Jerry, Suzy and Nancy.   Elmer served in the United States Army during World War II, serving in the Northern France Campaign, Rhineland Campaign and Central Europe Campaign where he was wounded and received his Purple Heart.  After the service he returned to Fort Dodge and worked for Hormel Packing Plant for 38 years.  Elmer and Donna Mae made two annual trips to Leech Lake each year and they enjoyed  going to weekly dances.  Elmer was a member of CCI.  He enjoyed planting and growing Christmas trees  and gardening. Elmer will be greatly missed by his family especially his grandchildren.

Elmer is survived by two daughters; Suzy (Joe) Cunningham of Fort Dodge and Nancy (Larry) Taylor of Savage, MN, 8 grandchildren; Christine Jondle, Lisa Caryl, Stephanie Chase, Roslynn Hansen, Kevin Swanson, Christopher Hansen, Marlon Hansen, and Teresa Swanson, 16 great grandchildren, and 7 great great grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings; Bill Swanson of Decatur, TX, Mabel Dressen of Ivanhoe, MN, Lee Swanson of Omaha, NE, June Goodman, Howard Swanson, Leona Mikkelson, and Marlene Yonker all of Tyler, MN.

Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, Olaf and Minnie Swanson, wife Donna who passed away January 2^nd of this year, son Jerry Swanson, infant brother Howard, brothers Earl and Arden Swanson and sisters Violet Binnebose and Ruby Armstrong.