John Leonard Swanson

Sibley, Iowa

John Leonard Swanson

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our best friend, father, father-in-law, step-father, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, brother-in-law, and uncle, John Swanson. John passed away peacefully at the home of his step-daughter and son-in-law in Sibley, Iowa on June 13, 2025.

John was born on August 11, 1949 in Valley City, North Dakota to Joseph “Jay” and Helen Seymour Swanson. He grew up in Sheldon, ND, attending school in Sheldon until the 7th grade. John’s family moved to Clark, SD where he attended school and graduated in 1967.

After graduation, John moved with his family to Aberdeen, where he attended Northern State University and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology.

John taught vo-tech classes, built homes, and constructed hotels all across the country for Super 8 builders. He enjoyed traveling with his partner Renee, to places like Arizona, California, Nevada, Montana, Virginia, Florida, Minneapolis, the Black Hills, to the “farm” in North Dakota and many places in between. At the time of his passing, he was traveling to parts of the midwest in his classic Winnebago MotorHome. John enjoyed looking for bargains at garage sales and attending antique auto shows. His greatest enjoyment, however, was spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John always had a joke to tell. Some of them should not have been repeated, as his grandchildren can attest to.

John is survived by his long time partner, Renee Logan; daughter and son, Danika and Landon (Erika Johnson) Swanson; step-children Tamara Logan (Angelo) Torres and Barney (Becky) Logan; grandchildren, Hunter Brick (Paige Lanoue), Zoey (Cody Brown), Damian, Hendrix and Daxton Logan, Tatyana Scrivner, Breeya Picotte, and Gregory Fraher (Mariana Lopez); great-grandchildren, Azriella, Arabella, and Levi; sister and brother, Mary Redlin and Dixon Swanson; sisters-in-law, Madeline and Pat Swanson, Carol Orr (Steve Nelson) and Cindy Solaas; brothers-in-law, Mark (Wanda) Fuhrer, Ken Keller, Bob Orr (Linda Anderson) and Chuck (Bonnie) Nyre and many cousins and nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife Twila “Ralph”; his grandson Mike Lilly; his mothers and fathers-in-law, Elaine and Gilbert Fuhrer and Robert and Caroline Orr; his brothers Kenny, Lanny, and Dean; sisters-in-law Ruby and Lucy Swanson, Sheryl Keller and Kathleen Nyre; brother-in-law Larry Redlin, and nephew Mike Hovde.

A remembrance was held for John on Father’s Day in Sibley, Iowa and at his grandson Micheal’s memorial in Aberdeen, SD. A celebration and burial of his ashes will be held on Labor Day weekend, Saturday, August 30 at 1:00 pm for family and friends at the Sheldon City Cemetery, with a reception following at the “farm”, 6248 143rd Ave SE, Sheldon, ND. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there to celebrate John’s life.

The family requests memorials be sent to Beecin Hospice Foundation, Palliative Care Program, PO Box 250, Sheldon, IA 51201, in John’s name.