Home > United States of America > Iowa > Greene County > Paton > Paton Cemetery > SPC Joseph Dean “Joe” Swansen

SPC Joseph Dean “Joe” Swansen

View larger map

1 / 3

2 / 3

3 / 3

❮ ❯

SPC Joseph Dean “Joe” Swansen

Birth	:	30 Sep 1951 Jefferson, Greene County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	3 Mar 1991 Boone, Boone County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Paton Cemetery, Paton, Greene County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.1624985, -94.2433014
Inscription	:	SP4, U.S. Army, Vietnam
Description	:	Joseph Dean Swansen, 39, of Paton, died from drowning Sunday in the Des Moines River in Boone County. Swansen was trying out a new fishing pole at Fraser Dam when he apparently slipped on a concrete apron and dropped into the dark water. He disappeared in the fast current below the dam and was swept downstream. Swansen surfaced about 20 feet downstream from his fishing spot. Friend, Mike Fisher of Dana, ran after him along the side of the river and rushed onto a shelf of ice protruding from the bank, but the ice gave way, and Fisher dropped... Read More	Joseph Dean Swansen, 39, of Paton, died from drowning Sunday in the Des Moines River in Boone County. Swansen was trying out a new fishing pole at Fraser Dam when he apparently slipped on a concrete apron and dropped into the dark water. He disappeared in the fast current below the dam and was swept downstream. Swansen surfaced about 20 feet downstream from his fishing spot. Friend, Mike Fisher of Dana, ran after him along the side of the river and rushed onto a shelf of ice protruding from the bank, but the ice gave way, and Fisher dropped into the icy water up to his neck. Fisher stated that his friend was caught in a whirlpool, bobbing up and down. It was very bad and Fisher remembers being so numb that he just couldn't do anything more. So despite the daring rescue attempt, Swansen could not be saved. His body was recovered about two hours later. Swansen had been working various concrete and construction jobs in the area. He is survived by his wife, Annette and four children. The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) 05 Mar 1991, Tue. Page 14 ____________________________________________________________________ PATON, IA - Joseph D. Swansen, 39, of Paton drowned Sunday after accidentally falling into the Des Moines River in Boone County. Services and an Amercan Legion presentation will be 1:30 p.m. today at Palmer Funeral Home in Gowrie. The body will be cremated after the service. Mr. Swansen was born in Jefferson and lived in Paton much of his life. He was a construction worker and a veteran of the Army. Survivors include his wife, Annette; two sons: Robert Brus of Carroll and James Eastcott of Boone; two daughters: Jessica Eastcott of Boone and Tawny Swansen of Paton; his mother, Gladys Swansen of Paton; and two sisters: Lynnea Smith of Clay Center, Kansas and Jenny Marshall of Paton. The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) 06 Mar 1991, Wed. Page 29 _____________________________________________________________ Joseph grew up in Paton, was active in Cub Scouts and attended K-6th grade at Paton. Paton school merged with Churdan, so Joe attended Paton-Churdan School, graduating in 1970 in a class of 39 students. Joe jokingly willed his ability to stay after school and scrape gum off the bottom of desks to Steve Fagerburg. Joe participated in the senior class play "Me and My Shadow" in Nov. 1969. In a class poem, Joe's verse was "Joe Swansen is the playboy of us all. We're sure he will always have a ball." He participated in football four years, track three years, class play two years, librarian four years, class president sophomore year; was basketball manager, student council representative, on annual staff, school paper and speech group. He participated in the Senior Class Trip in May 1970, boarding a train in Fort Dodge and traveling to Chicago, seeing memorable sites there. Joseph was selected by the American Legion Post of Paton to represent the community at Hawkeye Boy's State June 1-7, 1969 at Camp Dodge in Des Moines. He earned a certificate of graduation in elevator and Farm Supply Management in May 1971 from Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. Joseph enlisted in the Army and served from Weirtheim and Aschassenburg, Germany at one point, coming home for a month-long visit in the home of his family in May 1974. Joe was a crop-guide manager for Standard Oil Division of Amoco Oil Company in the Paton area. In 1975 he received a diploma from Amoco's comprehensive course in fertilizers and agronomy, a course which was designed to instruct participants in crop management as required by the farmers of that time, in which he improved his knowledge, salesmanship and technical study of fertilizers and agronomy. In March 1978, he moved into the house he bought from the estate of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Harrison. He was married to Annette Michele Rushton, age 19, of Paton in January 1984. He served as a pall bearer at the funeral of his friend, Rodney Fox, in 1986.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is SPC Joseph Dean “Joe” Swansen's memorial?
SPC Joseph Dean “Joe” Swansen's memorial is located at: Paton Cemetery, Paton, Greene County, USA.
When did SPC Joseph Dean “Joe” Swansen death?
SPC Joseph Dean “Joe” Swansen death on 3 Mar 1991 in Boone, Boone County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the SPC Joseph Dean “Joe” Swansen's memorial?
Latitude: 42.1624985
Longitude: -94.2433014

Family Members:

Parent

Dean Merle Swansen

(1920 - 1980)

Gladys Belva Fandrich Swansen Wallace

(1920 - 2004)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Paton Cemetery
Paton, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1624985, -94.2433014

2. Dawson Cemetery
Paton, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1655998, -94.3283005

3. Renner Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1380420, -94.1256570

4. Lost Grove Cemetery
Harcourt, Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2583008, -94.2331009

5. Swedish Lutheran Church Cemetery
Dayton, Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2175000, -94.1065000

6. Lawn Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1771011, -94.0867996

7. Union Cemetery
Boxholm, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1369019, -94.0852966

8. Grand Ridge Cemetery
Beaver, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0786018, -94.1157990

9. Gowrie Township Cemetery
Gowrie, Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2813988, -94.3043976

10. Mount Calvary Cemetery
Grand Junction, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0266000, -94.2325000

11. Beaver Cemetery
Beaver, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0462000, -94.1446000

12. Junction Township Cemetery
Grand Junction, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0236015, -94.2593994

13. Maple Grove Cemetery
Boxholm, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0793690, -94.0859890

14. Maas Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0908012, -94.0618973

15. Pilot Mound Cemetery
Pilot Mound, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1636200, -94.0282600

16. Christ the King Catholic Cemetery
Dayton, Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2601929, -94.0727539

17. Dayton Cemetery
Dayton, Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2675000, -94.0755000

18. Highland Township Cemetery
Churdan, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1518310, -94.4699120

19. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Jefferson, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0289001, -94.3818970

20. Reading Cemetery
Farnhamville, Calhoun County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2593994, -94.4325027

21. Jefferson Cemetery
Jefferson, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0133018, -94.3591995

22. Runyan Cemetery
Pilot Mound, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1749992, -94.0015030

23. Our Saviour Cemetery
Callender, Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3396988, -94.3153000

24. Linn Cemetery
Pilot Mound, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2045330, -93.9970230