ALGONA — Eugene Swenson, age 87 of Algona, passed away Thursday, June 15, 2017, at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at 11 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Algona with Rev. Tom Schlund officiating. Burial took place at West Cemetery in Rake. Visitation was held on Tuesday from 10 a.m., until the time of the service at Trinity Lutheran Church in Algona.
Eugene Lowell Swenson, the son of Leonard and Gudrun (Hansel) Swenson, was born on Feb. 8, 1930, near Ellsworth. He was baptized at home and was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church near Stanhope. Eugene graduated from Stanhope High School in 1948.
In 1951, Eugene enlisted in the United States Army. He was stationed in Berlin, Germany for sixteen months before being honorably discharged in 1953. On July 14, 1957, Eugene married Joan Marlys Ernst at Zion Lutheran Church in Rockford. Eugene was an avid farmer; farming from 1954 until 1987. He farmed most of these years at Rake, where Eugene and Joan raised two sons, Brad and Brent. After retiring from farming, the couple moved to Algona where Eugene managed the theatre until retirement. Eugene was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Kiwanis and the American Legion.
Left to cherish Eugene’s memory are his wife of 59 years, Joan of Algona; sons, Brad (Joann) Swenson of Kellogg, Minn., and Brent (Pam) Swenson of Buffalo Center; grandchildren, Jackie (Dan) Reiter of Oronaco, Minn., Amy (Brandon) Adams of Ames, Terri Swenson of Eau Claire, Wis., Brady Swenson of Gladbrook, Chelsey Swenson of North Liberty and Brandi Swenson of Hanlontown; great-grandchildren, Ashlyn, Alyvia and Jackson Reiter; brother, Lester (Darlene) Swenson of Maple Grove, Minn.; brother-in-law, Bill (Thelma) Ernst of Mason City; sisters-in-law, June Marth of Nashua and Iva Ernst of Forest City along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Gudrun Swenson; parents-in-law, Louis and Emma Ernst and brothers-in-law, Jim Ernst and Gerald Marth.
Memorials may be made in Eugene’s memory to Trinity Lutheran Church. The Lentz Funeral Home in Algona is serving the family. Condolences may be left at www.lentzfuneralhome.com