Alvin "Herb" Herbert Swanson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Alvin "Herb" Herbert Swanson, 93, died on Friday, June 14, 2019 at the Munson Hospice House. Born Feb. 21, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois he was the son of the late Otto and Ellen (Nelson) Swanson. On June 13, 1953, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he married Lucille Rozek. They had met the previous summer while playing golf, a sport in which they participated for most of their lives. Herb and Lucille enjoyed almost 60 years of harmonious, loving marriage. While living in Milwaukee they had two children, Glen and Karen. Herb served in World War II as a cryptographer in an Army Air Corps communications squadron in China. During the Korean War he was called back for another year of service, this time in Japan. Herb graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy. He worked as a CPA in Milwaukee until 1962 when the family moved to the Chicago area, where he later became the CFO of Scott Foresman & Co. After their daughter Karen graduated from Indiana University, she moved to Traverse City. Herb and Lucille decided that was a great place to live also, and moved there in 1980. Their son Glen, a postal employee was able to arrange a transfer to TC as well. Later, when Karen struggled with cancer for six years, Herb and Lucille were thankful that they were there to help her. Herb and Lucille loved to travel and see new places. They visited all 50 states and all but one Canadian province. They travelled to Europe four times, accompanied by their son Glen. On the first three trips they rented an auto and explored on their own. During a number of school vacations when their children were young, they toured the mountain and canyon country of the American and Canadian West, visiting all the major National Parks, camping and hiking in many of them. Herb’s love of the mountain country had started with a summer working in the back country of Glacier National Park, Montana. He capped off that summer before returning to school by a hike across the Grand Canyon with several of his Glacier co-workers. Herb loved the game of golf. He belonged to the Traverse City Country Club for many years and was lucky enough to get a couple of holes in one while playing there. Herb was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lucille, his daughter Karen (Wisniewski), his parents, and a brother Arnold. He is survived by his son Glen Swanson of Traverse City, his grandson Kenneth Wisniewski of Chicago, and sister Louise Stancliffee of Rockford, Illinois, and number of nieces and nephews in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. In keeping with his wishes, no funeral services are planned. Memorials may be directed to a charity of one’s choice. Herb and his family are in the care of the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Alvin "Herb" Herbert Swanson

February 21, 1926 - June 14, 2019