Arthur Charles Swajanen, age 84, of Eben Junction, died on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 surrounded by his family at 2:45 a.m. at his home. He was born in Marquette, Michigan on June 27, 1923 to John and Elizabeth (Ranta-Aho) Swajanen. Art attended school in Eben and later earned his G.E.D. in 1979. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a medic in New Guinea. On February 16, 1946, he married Iria (Irene) Violet Hautamaki. Art and Irene worked their dairy farm for thirty years while raising their five children. Then raised beef cattle until 2006. For many years, Art served on various committees and boards including Rock River Township Supervisor, Alger County Commissioner, F.I.A. Advisory Board, Veterans Service Board and several others. He was a lifelong member of the Ikkala Brothers V.F.W. and Calvary Free Lutheran Church serving on the Church Council. He especially enjoyed going to his grandchildren’s Cougar and Mustang sporting events. He also enjoyed Detroit Tigers baseball, Detroit Lions Football, and Superior Central basketball games.
Art is survived by his wife of sixty-two years – Iria; three daughters – Maria (Duane) Lincoln of Munising, Janet (Jack) Tyner of Eben, and Kayleen (Ted) Holmstrom of Hancock; two sons – Kenneth (Lisa) Swajanen of Munising and Richard (JoEllen) Swajanen of Chatham; nineteen grandchildren – Cary (Sandy), Chad (Jen), Julie (Rob), Jake, Joseph (Harmony), Jed, Billie Jo, Emily, Andrew, Annabel, Kasi, Molly, Abby, George, Gabriel, Grant, Kaylor, Kaisa, and Karena; eight great-grandchildren – Devin, Nicole, Noah, Cody, Teslyn, Madisyn, Brylee, and Derick; five sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Elizabeth, brothers John, Eino, and Willie, sister Elizabeth, and grandsons Little Kenny and Baby Jack.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Eben with Pastor Tom Schierkolk officiating. The family will greet friends and relatives from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2008 at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising. A time of visitation will also be held at 10:00 a.m. at the church on Saturday until the time of the funeral service. Pallbearers will be Art’s nine grandsons. Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham where military honors will take place.
The family would like to express special thanks to North Woods Home Health and Hospice – especially Julie, Carrie, Diane, June, and Kate for their loving care and support.
Visitation will be on Friday evening at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. and also at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Art’s funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Eben. A completed obituary will be in Thursday’s edition of the Mining Journal and may be viewed at www.bowermanfuneralhome.net.
