Arthur Swanson

Hawarden, Iowa Arthur V. Swanson, 95, of Freeport, Florida, formerly of Hawarden, Iowa, died Sunday, November 17, 2013 in Niceville, Florida after a brief hospitalization.
Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, November 23, 2013 at the American Lutheran Church in Hawarden with Rev. Erma Wolf officiating. Burial will follow in the Grace Hill Cemetery. The Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden is assisting the family.
Arthur was born on Sept. 22, 1918, in Montrose, SD, son of Victor and Emma (nee Erickson) Swanson and grew up on the farm. After finishing business college in Washington he took a job with CNR in Skagway Alaska and worked there until being hired at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle during the War. It was there that he met Eunice. They were married in 1944.
Arthur was a very practical man and supremely organized, which suited him perfectly for the hardware business. With his brother Loren, they established the hardware store in Hawarden in 1946, which he ran until retirement in 1982. He and Eunice then began travelling extensively in the US in their motorhome, as well as trips abroad. Green Valley AZ became their winter home until 2006.
Arthur was active in the church his entire life. He and Eunice were founding members of Hawarden American Lutheran Church and Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley. In 2006 they moved to Freeport FL for their winter location. Eunice died shortly thereafter. It was just Sept. of 2012 that he moved from Hawarden to be full time in FL.
Although he was thrifty in his habits, he was very generous to those around him, and the rock and foundation to his family. No one could beat him at cards, try though they may.
He is survived by daughters Kristine Voreis and husband John of Coralville IA and Ruth Swanson and husband William Mason of Ayton, Ontario, and son Eric Swanson and wife Terry of Freeport FL; and grandchildren Sara Voreis Scott (husband Paul) of Iowa City IA, Jessica Mason of Toronto ON, and Stephen Mason (friend Erin Crickett) of Guelph ON; and three great-grandchildren Zoe, Raymond, and Henry Scott. Also surviving is one sister Marianna Schmidt Williams of Rapid City SD and brother-in-law John Carson (wife Laura) of Hoople ND and many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to University of South Dakota Foundation. By mail: USD Foundation, Wagner Center, 1110 North Dakota Street, Vermillion SD 57069 ('audiology dept.' in memo line). On line: onwardsd.org/usdfoundation, designation: audiology dept.