Donald Theodore Swanson

Donald T. ""Duck"" Swanson, age 88, of Watkins, passed away peacefully at his farm near Forest City on Tuesday, October 15, 2013. A private family service will be held at the Emmanuel Home and a public memorial service will be held at 7:00 PM on Monday, October, 21, 2013 at the Ostmark Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Monday at the church. Interment will be in the Lake Ripley Cemetery following the family service. Military Honors will be provided by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. Don was born Nov 4, 1924 in Clara City, MN to Albin and Esther (Swanson) Swanson. Don was a graduate in 1942 of Litchfield High School. His favorite classes were math and bookkeeping. He was in the U.S. Army in 1944-45. He was united in marriage to Donna King on Feb 19, 1949, at Grove City Baptist Church. In 1952, they bought the farm near Forest City. Don was later united in a second marriage to Jackie Wilson on July 3, 1970 at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Don loved the farm, he loved farm life – he lived on the Forest City farm for 61 years. Don was a sports enthusiast. In the 1940's and 1950's, he was the first baseman for Darwin's popular fast pitch Horseshoe Café softball team. He later enjoyed golfing, bowling, and watched lots of football and baseball. Last summer he was inducted into the Darwin Baseball Hall of Fame at which time he was the oldest living player. Don is preceded in death by his parents Albin and Esther Swanson, sister Irene Swanson and brother Jim Swanson, Dassel, MN. Don is survived by his wife Jackie; children Mike (Cheryl) Swanson and Dawn Swanson and stepchildren Pam (Dean) Croft, Doug (MaryJune) Wilson, Darrel (Diana) Wilson, and Jamie (Virgil) Wiechmann; grandchildren Holly, Lucas, Blake, Bryan, Paul, Becca, Erica, Kara, Daniel, Matthew, and Megan; and many great-grandchildren. Memorials are preferred to Ostmark Lutheran Church.Previous Events Visitation Monday, October 21, 2013 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Ostmark Lutheran Church 32721 680th Avenue Watkins, MN 55389 Visitation Monday, October 21, 2013 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM Ostmark Lutheran Church 32721 680th Avenue Watkins, MN 55389