Lillian Swanson

Lillian Louise Caroline Swanson died peacefully on February 12, 2009 at University of Iowa Hospitals after a brief illness. At her bedside were members of her family. She had recently moved from Spencer to Legacy Pointe in Iowa City. Lillian was born to Frederick and Mary Steimke in Larrabee, Iowa on July 29, 1917. She was the fourth of four children, including her brothers Augustus and Clarence and her sister Sophie. On September 3, 1947 she married Oscar Carl Swanson, also of Larrabee. In 1955 they moved from Storm Lake, where they had operated a corner grocery store, to Spencer, where they opened Swanson's Super Store. Oscar and Lillian had four children--Mike, Steve, Chuck, and Becky. The roles Lillian enjoyed most during her life were those of wife, mom, grandma, sister, and friend. She was a loving wife and business partner. Though she was not involved in the day to day operation of Swanson's Super Store, the business benefited from an important ingredient only she could provide. She was an active and important influence on her children and grandchildren. Mike, Steve, Chuck, and Becky would all agree that she never shied away from offering advice, and they (mostly) accepted Mom's counsel. She loved nothing more than a visit or phone call from her six grandchildren--Andy, Brice, Anne, Sally, Laurie, and Rachel--and she was also willing to offer them what she considered to be needed advice. They also (mostly) followed Grandma's counsel. Lillian found a special joy in attending the weddings of three grandchildren. Lillian was also very close with her extended family. When her family was young she, Oscar, and the kids would spend most holidays with her sister Sophie and her family on the farm where the two sisters were raised. Family, whether immediate or extended, meant a great deal to Lillian. As much as she loved her family, she also reserved a place in her heart for Iowa and its Hawkeyes, Spencer and its Tigers, and her many friends. From 1971 to 1984 she worked in the Spencer High School Library. She was very involved as a volunteer for Tiger sporting events, and on May 6, 1994 she was the Honorary Referee for the 39th Annual Spencer Relays. She often talked of the joy of working with the students and the conversations she had with those same students as they matured and had families of their own. She was an enthusiastic member of many local organizations, including the Family YMCA, TTT, Questers, Garden Club, Spencer Community Theatre Playhouse, Arts on Grand, Eastern Star, and her bridge clubs and coffee groups. Her favorite pastimes were exercising at the Y or playing a round of golf at the Spencer Golf and Country Club. She actively supported the University of Iowa's Hancher Auditorium and treasured the many times she played hostess to artists sponsored by Hancher Auditorium and The University of Iowa's SPOT- Family Arts Adventure project when they performed in Spencer. Lillian was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar; her daughter, Becky Gould; and her brothers, Augustus and Clarence. She is survived by her sons and their wives: Mike and Judith Swanson of Lake Oswego, Oregon; Steve and Julie Swanson, of Burlington, Iowa; and Chuck and Kim Swanson, of Coralville, Iowa. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Andy and Elizabeth Swanson, of North Liberty, Iowa; Brice and Elizabeth Swanson, of Davenport, Iowa; Anne and Dan Scher, of Madison, Wisconsin; Sally Swanson of San Luis Obispo, California; Laurie Swanson of Iowa City, Iowa; and Rachel Swanson of Chicago, Illinois. She is also survived by her sister, Sophie Ducommun of Cherokee, Iowa. Memorials may be made to the Spencer Family YMCA and Hancher Auditorium. Her death creates an emptiness that memories of her life rush to fill.

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