HAROLD O. SWANSON, 76

(veteran)

Harold O. Swanson, 76, of Fort Calhoun, a well-known community leader, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 1998, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.

Services were Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Fort Calhoun Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Gregg Miller officiating. Carol Sprick was the organist.

Pallbearers were Robert Falk, Gayle Maine, Gene Smith, Sydney Clausen, Paul Kruger and Howard Barnes.

Burial was in the Fort Calhoun Cemetery. Military honors were presented by American Legion Post 348. Solomon Lodge 10 conducted a Masonic service.

Harold Ove Swanson was born April 4, 1922, in Omaha to Harold V. and Hertha Ove Swanson. He grew up in Omaha and attended Omaha North High School.

On July 15, 1942, he married Lillian Lavonne Smith in Omaha. The couple celebrated 54 years of marriage before her death on March 25, 1997.

He was a World War II veteran, serving aboard the USS Maryland in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946.

He had worked at Northside Bank in Omaha. He opened his own company, Calhoun Oil in 1947, when he and his wife decided to move to her hometown. Last Oct. 1, he celebrated 50 years of business with a special open house for his customers.

He was active in many community organizations and assisted with many projects. He had served as treasurer for Fort Calhoun School District 3, for the Washington County Historical Association and for the city of Fort Calhoun. He had served as a city councilman and was a 35-year member of the Fort Calhoun Volunteer Fire Department.

He as a 50-year member and past commander of the American Legion Post 348. He was also a 50-year member of the Tangier Shrine. He was past Worshipful Master of Solomon Lodge 10 AF & AM.

He was a past Patron of the Naomi Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. He was a past Grand Patron of the Naomi Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. He was a past Grand Patron and past chairman of the board of trustees of the Grand Chapter of Nebraska Order of Eastern Star. He had served as vice president of the board of trustees of the Eastern Star's Home for Children at Fremont.

He was a past Grand Chef De Gare Du Nebraska 40 & 8. From 1983 through 1985, he was president of the Nebraska Petroleum Marketers Association. Since 1974, he had served as a member of Fort Calhoun State Bank's board of directors. He was an elder at Fort Calhoun Presbyterian Church.

He also enjoyed boating and waterskiing. He was devoted to his family. He had recently returned from an annual vacation with his family at the Lake of the Ozarks. He was survived by three sons, Clayton, Gregory and Joel and his wife, Kim; two daughters and sons-in-law, Marcia and Mark Graff and Nancy and Mark Prauner; 14 grandchildren, one great-grandson; and one sister, Janice Forbes of St. Louis, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Lillian.

Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home in Fort Calhoun was in charge of arrangements.