Roger D. Swanson

Roger D. Swanson was born February 6, 1931, in Manchester, Iowa, to Anton V. and Elsie (Reck) Swanson. He died on August 13, 2024, at the Great River Care Center in McGregor, Iowa.

Roger attended grade school at Rural Hazel Green Township in Delaware County, Iowa and graduated from Buck Creek Consolidated High School in Hopkinton, Iowa. He graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa with degrees in math and English, received his master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and his Elementary Counseling Endorsement from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He served in the U.S Army Signal Corp during the Korean War. Roger began his teaching career as a junior high school teacher at M-F-L in Monona, Iowa. He was the Elementary Supervisor at Maquoketa Valley for 2 years, then became the Elementary Principal at M-F-L for the next 38 years.

Roger served on many boards and volunteered with many organizations over the years, including: Ewalu Bible Camp, Clayton County Conservation Board, Froelich Foundation, church council and taught Sunday school. He also served as president of the Iowa Association of Elementary Principals and the N. E. Iowa Teachers Association.

Roger was married to Ruth Wetherell on August 22, 1954 in Shumway, Illinois. The family recently gathered for an early celebration of their 70 years of marriage. Roger and Ruth had five children – Debra (Steve) Yeager, Georgetown, Indiana; John (Julie) Swanson, Des Moines, Iowa; Nadine Swanson, Monona, Iowa; Lori Jo (Kevin) Nicolet, Des Moines, Iowa; and Jane (Scott) Schroeder, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Roger and Ruth operated an orchard west of Monona for over 45 years. He enjoyed taking produce to the farmers’ markets and visiting with other vendors and shoppers. His fruit exhibits won many ribbons and trophies at the Clayton County and Iowa State Fairs.

Surviving him are his five children, twelve grandchildren: Rebecca, Sarah (Austin), Rachel (Nathan), Andrew (Jill), Gregory (Peyton), Emma, Grace, Jaime (Kevin), Chris, Nathan (Justine), Jared and Ryan; and twelve great-grandchildren: Amelia, Lucy, Gavin, Eli, Liam, Abigail, Jonah, Naomi, Ezekiel, Elias, Malachi and Archer. Preceding him in death were his wife, Ruth, his parents, and an infant brother.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Faith Lutheran Church in Monona, Iowa, with visitation beginning at 1pm and service at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Froelich Foundation or Murphy Helwig Library in Monona.

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Monona, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements.

Click here to visit the Leonard-Grau Funeral Home website.