REUBEN DONALD LAVERN SWANSON was born November 12, 1914, in Clay County, Nebraska; the seventh of eight children of Henry G. and Mary (Nelson) Swanson. He passed away Monday, December 28, 2009, at the Oakland Heights Assisted Living in Oakland at the age of 95 years.

Reuben was baptized at Stockholm Lutheran Church in Filmore County. He was confirmed at Gesthemene Lutheran Church in Ong, Nebraska, where he graduated high school in 1934.

Reuben helped his dad on the farm until the depression when he worked as a hired hand. After the crops failed, he went to work for the Nelson family in Burt County, Nebraska, later renting 80 acres.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Reuben enlisted in the Army the following February. He was promoted to Master Sergeant, serving his time in Panama. When he returned to the states for training in electronics, he attended church in Los Angeles. It was there he met Esther Odien. On October 18, 1944, they were married in Los Angeles. After meeting Reuben’s parents in Nebraska, the newlyweds returned to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he had additional training for the war in the Pacific Theater. Esther remained in Texas while he completed his military service.

After the war was over, Reuben and Esther moved to Oakland, where they raised three children. They were members of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Using his Army education as an electrician, Reuben bought into business with Einer Rosen. They sold and serviced appliances and did electrical wiring. He later took a job working for the City of Oakland at the water purifying plant and became involved with plans for building a new sewer plant. This is where he continued what would be a lifelong respect for the conservation of the water we use and drink. Reuben was City Clerk at the time of his retirement in 1979. Reuben was instrumental in the location of Oakland Heights and resided there over 10 years.

Esther passed away April 25, 1995. They were married 50 years.

Reuben was a charter member of the Oakland Ryan VFW Post No. 5543. He loved gardening, birds, and the majesty of trees and nature. He sang bass in the church choir for many years and enjoyed singing with friends in a barbershop quartet.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Esther; four brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include his son, Gary Swanson and wife, Kaylene of Oakland; daughter, Marcia Swanson of Lincoln; son, Dana Swanson also of Lincoln; two grandsons, Jeramie Swanson and wife, Amy, Jamie Swanson and wife, Stacie; six great grandchildren; sister, Lorene Hope of Lindsborg, Kansas; nieces, nephews and friends.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Monday, January 4, 2010, 10:30 a.m. at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland.

MILITARY HONORS: Ryan VFW Post No. 5543 and American Legion Post No. 46

BURIAL: Oakland Cemetery at a later date.

NO VISITATION

MEMORIALS: Juvenile Diabetes Association, 2120 S. 56th Street, Suite 206, Lincoln, NE 68506

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelanfuneralservices@hotmail.com