Thomas L. Swanson

Funeral Services for Thomas L. Swanson will be conducted from the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Monday, June 23, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr., officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege with military honors provided by the Martin Horn American Legion Post #66.

Thomas Ludwig "Tom" Swanson, 88 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at the Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings, Nebraska. Tom was born August 25, 1919 on the family farm north of Holdrege in Phelps County, Nebraska, the youngest of three children of Walfred and Elizabeth (Davidson) Swanson. Tom received his education at Holdrege, graduating from Holdrege High School with the class of 1936. Following his education, he served his country in the U.S. Army from August 5, 1941 until his honorable discharge on May 26, 1945.

On August 21, 1946 he was united in marriage to Lois E. Beck in a double wedding ceremony with Tom's cousin at Phillipsburg, Kansas. To this union two daughters were born: Tamara Iva and Suzanne Echo. They made their home on the family farm north of Holdrege, where Tom engaged in farming and enjoyed raising cattle. His love for the labor of the land continued until his retirement at the age of 81.

As a young child, Tom attended the Emmaus Church north of Funk and joined the First Presbyterian Church in 1960, where he enjoyed the fellowship, ushering and greeting. Tom was a past member of the Elks Lodge in Holdrege, permanent member of the Martin Horn American Legion Post #66, where he was a proud member of the honor guard for many years and was a Charter Member of the Aerie #3132 of the Eagle's Club in Holdrege, where he was a past president. Tom enjoyed bowling on the Eagle's Bowling Team for many years, loved baseball and playing for the town teams in the area. In earlier years Tom enjoyed spending time at their cabin at Johnson Lake with the family and in later years loved the time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Lois of Holdrege; two daughters: Tammy May and Suzanne Lindsay both of Holdrege; three grandchildren: Thomas Mitchell May and his wife, Amy of Holdrege, Travis Layne Lindsay of Wilcox, Nebraska and Pepper Lea May and her husband, Jake Hogrefe of Kearney, Nebraska; seven great-grandchildren: Patrick, Ashton and Mitchell May, Cole and Lainee Lindsay and Jasper and Atreyu May-Hogrefe; two sisters-in-law: Helen Swanson of Holdrege and Donna Beck of Kearney; brother-in-law, Alton Beck of Colorado Springs, CO; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles and Edith Beck; son-in-law, Roger May; sister, Clara Wells and her husband, Harley; brother, C. Arthur Swanson; brothers-in-law: Neal Beck and his wife, Lu and Kenneth Beck; sisters-in-law: Josephine McNeely and her husband, Vic and Alma Schiro and her husband, Tony.

Tom will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Sunday, June 22, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.