Francis David Swanson

SIOUX CITY | Francis David Swanson, 96 of Sioux City, IA passed away Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at Touchstone Living Center. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 14, 2012 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel with Pastor Dann Speichinger officiating. Burial will be in Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be 9-11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Condolences may be posted online at www.meyerbroschapels.com . Francis was born July 30, 1915 in Pomeroy, IA the son of David and Mary (Petersen) Swanson. He grew up on the family farm west of Hinton, IA and pursued a lifelong career in farming. On the side he trucked eggs during WWII in Wisconsin, Duluth, MN and in Chicago. He also was a dealer for Nutra-Flo. On December 31, 1937 he married Thelma A. Smith. She died Oct. 16, 1991in 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; 3 nephews and a niece. He was preceded in death by his wife, a daughter, Jane Frances McGarry, his parents, a sister, Ruth Andersen and an infant grandson, Bobby Swanson. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and honorary pallbearers will be his great grandchildren. Memorials may be made in his name to Hospice of Siouxland.