Adolph Donald "Don" Swenson
June 26, 1929 ~ March 24, 2021
Adolph Donald (Don) Swenson, age 91, of Alta Vista, IA died of natural causes March 24, 2021, at Colonial Manor in Elma, Iowa. He had been fully vaccinated and had lived through the pandemic.
A private visitation will be held at Conway & Markham Funeral Home and burial at Union Cemetery in Alta Vista, IA for the immediate family. Online condolences may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Colonial Manor in Elma, Iowa.
Adolph Donald (Don) Swenson was born June 26, 1929. He was the fourth of five boys who grew up in Saude, Iowa, near the Little Turkey River. Don married Lorraine Joachim on June 2,1948. For over 50 years, they lived and farmed near Alta Vista, Iowa on the family’s century farm.
Don also worked as a bus driver for the New Hampton Community Schools. They were active at the Zion Lutheran Church and were excellent Pinochle players. Lorraine preceded Don in death after 69 years of marriage.
Don is survived by his three children and their spouses: Ruth (Wilbur) Woods of Bucyrus, MO, Doris (Roger) Swanson of Canton, MI and Glenn (Karna) Swenson of Minneapolis, MN; 12 grandchildren Daniel (Emily) Woods, Michael Woods, Jeffrey (Janice) Baygents, Denise Barnett, Christopher (Christine) Swanson, Carrie (Michael Furgerson) Swanson, Casey (Amanda) Swanson, Scott (Amanda) Swenson, Matthew (Caitlin) Swenson, Dade (Emily Snavely) Colberg, lan McBrayer, Ellis McBrayer; 12 great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Charles, Abbey, Cody, Kyleigh, Carter, Eli, Ashley, Bennett, Andrew, Hailey and Caleb; one brother, Joseph (Joe) (Barbara)Swenson and numerous nephews and nieces.
Don is preceded in death by his parents Adolph and Malla Swenson and brothers Alfred, Harold and Carl.
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Don was our bus driver for many years. He did an excellent job with the kids and we all liked him. Pam Pickar
Gonna miss you uncle Don. Tell grandpa hi for me
Our Thoughts and Prayers are with the Family.
Dale and I extend our deepest sympathy on the loss of your father, Doris. Classmates (1969), Dale and Laura (Noehl) Schmitz.
Don was a sweetheart kind of guy! I first met him and Lorraine when I worked a Liddle’s and after a short visit come to find out his brother was Carl and Carl was my uncle. We been friends from then on out!! I would always make sure I stopped to see in at the home in Elma!! Will miss seeing him Freinds always Dan, & Karen⁷
I visited Don just 2 weeks ago. He was sharing memories. He shared how he and Lorraine met and how much he missed her. Now they can be together. He was a good man who was always so kind. He will be missed.
On behalf of The NHHS Class of 1969, our sincere condolences to Doris and the Swenson family. Karen Reicks
Our condolences to the family and friends of Don Swenson. Lots of memories of him. Oliver and Leigh Gunderson
Our deepest sympathy. Uncle Don was such a sweet and kind soul. Always had a smile for you and I loved his stories. Rest In Peace!!
Our deepest sympathy. What a nice gentleman.
RIP Don
Sorry for your loss
Sympathy to the family,
My thoughts and prayers are with the family I always loved visiting with Don when I could get in the nursing home when I visited my mother
Our deepest sympathies to Don’s family. Don was a good, kind hearted gentleman. Always enjoyed a conversation with him and having him in the neighborhood east of Alta Vista. You could always count on Don if you needed a favor or too. He helped us out on different occasions over the years on our farm. After he was at Colonial Manor, we visited when we could. Will remember his smile that he always greeted us with. May he rest in peace.
So sorry for your loss. He was a great man and always a smile when you met him. May his memories console you. Prayers to his family. Jeanne Roder
Sympathies to the family! Miss sitting with Don at the nursing home as he showed and talked about his horses he had and the other pictures he kept along with him every day.
Sympathy to the family he was a good neighbor and bus driver
Sympathy to Don’s family. Don was such a nice man loved visiting with him at Colonial Manor.
Glenn – Joann and I are very sorry for your loss. Your father was a kind and gentle man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Our deepest sympathy—what a nice person Don was–he was a great bus driver and Lorraine was a great teacher–what a genuine couple–May they rest in peace together!!
My sincere condolences to all of you on the passing of Uncle Don, your Dad. I just saw a post on Facebook and wanted to plant a tree in his memory.
Ruth, Doris, Glenn and families…Uncle Don was always the one who teased us at family gatherings. In most recent years, Jack and I stopped at the care center whenever we were in the area, once on motorcycles! Uncle Don had such a good memory and I enjoyed asking him questions about my parents, farming in the “old days”, and of course, Aunt Lorraine. When they still lived in the house in town, Karyl, Wayne, Jack and I stopped for a quick visit on our way to the Black Hills. It turned into a meal, of course! Uncle Don was always interesting to visit with–and he loved to share his pictures of family with us in his room. We will miss him!
I was so sad to hear of Uncle Don’s passing. I loved to visit Don and Lorraine on the farm, though they usually put me to work shucking corn! But Lorraine always had treats for us and I loved her icebox cookies. Rest in Peace Uncle Don…now he and Lorraine are together.
WE SEND OUR SYMPATHIES TO THE SWENSON FAMILY. DON LOVED MY OLD TIME MUSIC AT THE CARE CENTER. R.I.P. DON. YOU WILL BE DANCING UP IN HEAVEN NOW. FROM TIM & CINDY HOWLAND & TIM THE MUSIC MAN PROTIVIN IOWA.
GOD has a WONDERFUL new Angel ❤️ Don was my bus driver and a very special person to me. I’m so sorry for your loss.
I was so sorry to hear about Uncle Don. I have memories of stopping at the farm with Mom and Dad( Al & Ginny Swenson). Loved seeing the cows! And Aunt Lorraine was a wonderful cook! Don was such a nice person. My condolences to Ruth, Doris and Glenn. Molly(Swenson) Gould