Charles "Chuck" Swenson

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CHARLES "CHUCK" GORDON SWENSON was born on March 21, 1938 to Dr. Jacob Alvin and Olga (Stoen) Swenson in Jasper, MN. Chuck was raised in Jasper, MN and attended Jasper High School. He joined the US Air Force, November 16, 1955. He was honorably discharged January 12, 1958 after being wounded by a gunshot to his shoulder. On May 13, 1961, Chuck married Joyce Abbas in Lennox, SD. Their marriage was blessed with four children Karla, Keith, Craig, and Joel. Chuck was a telephone contractor which led to the family traveling for his work across the United States. After many years of traveling, the couple moved to Canton, SD for a few years before moving to Jasper, MN in 1974. Chuck started to work at Royal C. Johnson Veteran’s Memorial Hospital as a telephone technician in 1985 until he retired in 2007. Chuck’s passion was playing pool. He enjoyed having family and friends over to his home to shoot pool and he was on pool leagues into his 80s. Chuck and Joyce took pleasure in traveling the country on motorcycles and in their Corvette (Mole 3). Chuck was a member of the Masonic lodge, and the El Raid Shrine Motor Corp. He was part of the El Raid Shrine division that performed precision drills on Harley Davidson Police Motorcycles and rode in parades at Shrine and Community events.

Chuck will be remembered for living life to the fullest, having a big heart to help others in need, a knack for making friends, wheeling and dealing, enjoying shooting the breeze, wearing flashy jewelry, running of pool tables, love for arguing politics, giving rides on the back of his motorcycle, and always being young at heart.

Chuck was active in the Alcoholics Anonymous with his goal being to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. He found strength daily in The Serenity Prayer which is printed on the back side of this folder.

Chuck experienced a sudden decline in his health. He entered the VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD on May 25, 2022. He died peacefully there on Saturday, June 4th surrounded by his loving family at the age of 84 years, 2 months, and 14 days.

Left to cherish his memory are his children and their family, Karla Ykema (Stacey Jaacks) of Gallatin, Tennessee, Keith Swenson of Jasper, Craig (Erin) Swenson of Jasper, and Joel (Kimberly) Swenson of Sherman, South Dakota; grandchildren, Cayce (Tessa Brady), Londyn (Jesse Erickson), Ramsey, Kenaniah (Thai) Trinh, Jericho (Joseph) Rago, and Jonah (Hannah); nine great-grandchildren, Corbin, Skylar, Kolt, Jalynn, Javin, Jarvis, Lana, Audrey, and Alexander; sister, Marilyn Eshleman; many loving nieces and nephews; and best pal, Peanut. Chuck was preceded in death by the love of life, Joyce; his parents, Jacob and Olga; and his siblings, Betty Perdue, Joyce Eggerud, Kenneth Swenson, Dr. James Swenson, and Beverly Hoffman.


Memorials will be donated in Chuck's honor to: the Jasper Fire Department, Jasper Ambulance, the Jasper American Legion, and the El Riad Shrine.