Larry A. Swanson

Larry Arthur Swanson, 85, of Sun Lakes, Arizona, passed away, Saturday, March 24, 2018 at his home. Memorial services will be held at 1:30 PM Saturday, June 30, 2018 at Major Erickson Funeral Home at 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Mason City, IA. Larry will be inurned at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery in Mason City, IA. Please make any memorials/ donations to the Hospice of the Valley at the following address. Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014.

Larry was born May 14,1932 in Mason City, Iowa to Art and Blanche Swanson. He was the oldest of 3 brothers: Larry, Bill (deceased) and Tom. He graduated from Mason City High School in 1951. Larry enlisted in the Air Force and was honorably discharged on February 12,1956 with a National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal.

On June 22,1958 he married Norma Jean McEachran in Mason City, Iowa. Larry was employed at Paine Plumbing for over 25 years and upon retiring he and Norma moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona in 1986. Larry and Norma were active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, IA and King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe, AZ. He was an avid tennis player and played regularly at the Paloverde and Cottonwood Country Clubs with his friends. Larry enjoyed going many times to the auto auctions, train shows and flea markets. In Iowa, and in Arizona, Larry loved to garden and continued doing so until a few years ago. Larry and Norma loved to play games and over the course of their years in Arizona would play weekly with friends and or family.

Larry is survived by his wife, Norma of 59 years, his daughter and son in law, Tammy and Dean Douglas of Chandler AZ, and grandchildren Zachary Douglas, living in Chongqing, China and Delaney Douglas of Chandler, AZ, Larry’s sister in law Sharon Swanson (Bill is deceased) of Mesa AZ, and Tom and Ann Swanson of Mesa, AZ. He is also survived by Norma’s brother and sister in law Ralph and Eleanor McEachran of Mason City, IA and several nieces and nephews.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Bill Swanson.