Gail M. Swanson, 75, of rural Sutherland, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa surrounded by his family after a brief battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 4, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Meriden Evangelical Free Church. Pastors Nelson Jenkins and Larry Ostercamp will officiate. Burial will be at Cherokee Memory Gardens Cemetery in Cherokee, Iowa. Military rites will be performed by L.A. Wescott Post #2253 and the Cherokee American Legion. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the family present from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
Gail Melvin Swanson, the son of Melvin and Winifred L. (Prunty) Swanson was born on September 5, 1949 in Cherokee, Iowa. He received his education and graduated from Sutherland High School in 1968. He attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska for two years and joined the Army National Guard for six years. He started his farming career in 1972 with his Dad, Melvin and two brothers, Norman and Lyle Swanson. He started working with hog barns in 1997 and 2001 when he had two barns built. He enjoyed working for several hog companies since then and now he is with Hanor Feed Company. In 2017, he became his son, Greg’s #1 Beck’s customer, planting exclusively Beck’s Seeds on his farm.
Gail was united in marriage to Grace LaVonne Johnson on June 26, 1976 at the Meriden Evangelical Free Church in Meriden, Iowa. They lived and worked on the Swanson Family Farm for over 48 years.
In his early years, Gail attended the Church of Christ in Sutherland. He accepted the Lord at Bible Camp at 12 years old. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Cherokee and was a trustee there for many years. Later on he attended Meriden Evangelical Free Church in Meriden.
He loved farming, especially his red International Harvester equipment. Spending time with his family was extremely important to Gail. He enjoyed boat rides, classic cars, flying kites, playing basketball, and watching sports. He loved vanilla and strawberry ice cream. He was the BEST ping pong player and was the master of the grill. Gail was a friend to anyone who met him and will be greatly missed by all.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Winifred Swanson, three brothers Doug (Carol Jean) Swanson, Neil Swanson, and Rodney Swanson, sister Wanda Blair, mother-in-law and father-in-law Fern Johnson and Robert Johnson.
Gail is survived by his wife of 48 years Grace Swanson of Sutherland, Iowa; two sons: Greg (Julie) Swanson of Sutherland, Iowa and Kory Swanson (Abby Zupp) of Washta, Iowa ; two daughters Heather Swanson of Sutherland, Iowa, and Jill (Ryan) Birkland of Clive, Iowa; grandchildren, Luke, Matthew, and Emily Swanson, Elliot, Lily, and Lynnea Birkland, and Bryson Rupp; special family friend Paisley Johnson; brothers Norman (Mary) Swanson of Primghar, Iowa, Lyle (Donna) Swanson of Elgin, Illinois; brothers-in-law, Dan (Sharon) Johnson of Marcus, Iowa, Tim (Deb) Johnson of Cherokee, Iowa, Mark (Karen) Johnson of Cleghorn, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Jan (Steve) Fox of Columbus, Nebraska, Ruth (Jerry) Fischer of Byron, Minnesota and Spirit Lake, Iowa, Jean Swanson of Springfield, Missouri; numerous nieces and nephews; also many family and friends.