Gordon R. Swanson

Gordon Roy Swanson passed away on December 21, 2017 at the age of 95. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 26, 2017 from 4 to 8 P.M., the family present from 6 to 8 P.M. with a Masonic Service at 7:00 P.M. by the Tyrian Lodge #508 A.F. & A.M. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Burial with military honors will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. Gordon was born in Hawarden, IA, on February 12, 1922 to Roy and Selma (Ball) Swanson. After serving in the Army during WWII in the Pacific Theater, Gordon came home to Sioux City and met the love of his life, Ella Popken. Ella and Gordon were married on April 15, 1950 at Trinity Lutheran Church. He was a well-liked and prominent businessman in Sioux City. He started as a junior partner and then became the senior partner of the Shipway and Swanson accounting firm and was subsequently the senior partner of Swanson and Gaffey, retiring in 1997 at the age of 75. Gordon, with his wife Ella, was very involved with many organizations and clubs in the Sioux City area including being a 33rd degree Mason with the Tyrian Lodge, and president and secretary the Sioux City Kiwanis Club. He was a member of the Consistory, Shriners, the Iris Society, Sioux City Ambassadors, the School Board, and the Airport Board. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, dancing with his Ella, traveling to all the national parks and abroad. Preceding him in death were his parents. He is survived by his wife Ella, sons Craig and Scott (Kat), granddaughter Erica (Will) Hancock and great grandson Jaxson. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Abu Bekr Shriners to support their services with the Shriners Children Hospital. Thank you to everyone who cared for Gordon during these last years of his life and thank you in advance to everyone who has sent their kind thoughts and prayers to his family.