Ione M. Swanson

Ione M. Swanson, 95, “Grandma the Great” and the “Softest Grandma”, passed away peacefully at her home of 73 years on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. She was born on March 26, 1920 in Bangor, WI to Harry O. and Julia (Schelmidine) Brewer. She was a 1938 graduate of Onalaska High School and married Harold E. Swanson Sr. on February 21, 1939. Together Ione and Harold raised their five children and owned and operated Swanson’s Heavy Moving. She was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church with her special circle and the church basement ladies. She also had many mahjong and poker playing friends, and was a volunteer at Gundersen Lutheran.
She is survived by four children, Harold “Deak” (Cindi) Swanson, Shirley “Tiz” (Glenn) Meyer, Bob (Mary Anne) Swanson, and Janie (Richard) Binkowski-Pressnall, two daughters-in-law, Kathy Swanson and Jeanne Swanson, ten grandchildren, Gregory (Linda) Meyer, G. Andrew (Laura) Meyer, Melissa Ione Meyer Revoire, Derek (Laurie) Swanson, Joshua (Emily) Swanson, Dirk (Lisa) Swanson, Tracy (Jason) Clark, John (Birgit) Binkowski, Matthew (Karen) Binkowski, and Michael (Sabrina) Binkowski, eighteen great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Griffin, Garrett and Gavin Meyer, Maia Ione and Augustus Revoire, Dallin, Joely, Dorian and Jonna Swanson, Zack Patros, Ione and Nora Swanson, Cullen and Simone Swanson, Jameson and Quinn Clark, and Lukas Binkowski, a sister Eloda Duellman, a sister-in-law Eileen Baumgart, and many nieces, nephews, dear friends, and an endless number of people who know how wonderful she was. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harold, a son Gary Swanson, a son-in-law Leo Binkowski, three brothers, Harry, George and Larry Brewer, and three sisters, Beverly Brewer, Lee Poss, and Betty Poellinger.
After a lifetime of blessings and trials she would smile that beautiful smile and say, “LIFE GOES ON.”
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church. Pastor Erik Feig will officiate. Entombment will be in the Oak Grove Garden Mausoleum. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9:30 AM until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of a life well lived may be given to the Binkowski/Swanson Scholarship Fund at Viterbo University, Gundersen Foundation, Trinity Lutheran Church, or the donor’s choice.