FLOYD SWANSON

Funeral services for Floyd D. Swanson, 84, of Aurelia, will be held at the First Congregational Church in Aurelia, on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 10:30 a.m., with Pastor Bruce Rapp officiating.  Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M., with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00, on Tuesday at the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Aurelia.

Floyd died Saturday, September 7, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City.

Floyd Dale Swanson was born near Round Lake, Minnesota, on July 3, 1929, the son of Clarence and Elfrieda (Jaeger) Swanson. His childhood years were spent in O’Brien County, IA. It was there that he received his education and was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

Floyd started farming in 1949 near Larrabee. In 1951 Floyd entered the Army during the Korean Conflict, serving 18 months in Korea. After his discharge he returned home to farming. On February 27, 1959 Floyd married Martha Gerstandt at the Evangelical Reformed Church in Calumet, IA. Following their marriage they moved to a farm east of Aurelia, where they continue to live. In 1963 Floyd became a member of the Congregational Church in Aurelia where he served as a board member and as Deacon. He was a member of the Grashoff-McManus American Legion Post # 390 of Aurelia. He served as a director of Federal Land Bank for Cherokee County for 16 years.

He enjoyed following his children and grandchildren in all activities. His love of the land ran deep, and he so enjoyed visiting about farming and seeing a yard of well kept livestock. He was a humble and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He treasured his family and his pride in them was most evident.

Preceding Floyd in death were his parents, one brother-in-law, John Redshaw, and one nephew, Eric Swanson.

Survivors include his wife Martha Swanson of Aurelia, three children; Teresa Kelley of Sioux City, Bill Swanson of Aurelia, and Byron and his wife Michelle (Caboth) Swanson of Aurelia. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Sarah and her husband Anthony Gill of Jackson, NE, Amanda Swanson, Matthew Swanson, and Michael Swanson all of Aurelia, one sister, Lois Redshaw of Sioux City, one brother, John and his wife Mary Swanson of Ocheyedan, one sister-in-law, Helen Dau of Primghar, two brothers-in-law, Delbert Wiese of Paullina, and Albert Gerstandt of Spirit Lake, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.