JANESVILLE, Wis. — Oliver (Ollie) A. Swanson, 69, of Janesville, died unexpectedly on Thursday, July 26, 2007, at home.
He was born in Escanaba on Dec. 17, 1937, the son of Oliver A. and Frances (Oslund) Swanson. He graduated from Escanaba Senior High School, Northland College, Northern Michigan University and UW-Whitewater.
Oliver served in the U.S. Marines and had been a Janesville resident most of his life. He married Coral Snyder on Aug. 16, 1969, in Janesville. He had been employed as a math teacher at Marshall Junior High School, and later at Parker High School, where he was instrumental in developing the School Within A School program, retiring in June 1993. Oliver was a member of the Wisconsin Retired Teachers, and the Janesville Retired Teachers.
He is survived by his wife, Coral of Janesville; three siblings, Barbara (Robert) Perlberg of Marquette, Kenneth (Margo) Swanson of Redmond, Wash., and Catherine (Dwight) Gilroy of Mecosta, Mich.; aunts, Evelyn Zella, Lorraine Oslund and uncle Richard (Karen) Oslund; seven nieces and nephews, Jennifer (George) Bishop, Deborah Gilroy, Rebekah (Jason) Murphy, Timothy Swanson, Daniel (Alexandra) Swanson, Claire Snyder and Nora Snyder; four great-nieces Olivia and Lauryn Bishop; Caitlyn and Ella Murphy and other extended family and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gerald; and infant siblings, Daniel and Elizabeth.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 1 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home with Pastor Paul Mai of Bethany Lutheran Church officiating. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 11 a.m. until the time of service at the Anderson Funeral Home. Interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Escanaba. Delta County veteran’s services will be conducted at the Lakeview Cemetery. A luncheon will be served following the burial at Bethany Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.
For on-line obituary and registry:
www.andersonfuneralhomes.net Memorials may be made to the Escanaba Senior High School music department.
Oliver was a wonderful husband, brother, uncle, teacher and friend.
With his wife, Coral, he traveled the world. Ollie loved his hometown of Escanaba very much and visited there with family and friends as often as he could. He was a happy and kind-hearted person who enjoyed life to the fullest.
It is not our belief or disbelief that can make or unmake the fact. ~ Thomas Paine
