Submitted by: Dan Rich

George D. Swan

March 2, 1917 - Jan. 2, 2000

South Bend Tribune 1/4/2000

George D. Swan, 82 years old, residing on U.S. 31 South in Lakeville, passed away at 5:12 P.M. on Sunday, January 2, 2000, at his home after an extended illness. Mr. Swan was born on March 2, 1917, in Charleston, Nebraska, to the late George F. and Maude E. (Morss) Swan. He has been a resident of Lakeville since 1947.

On Sept 7, 1940, in Lincoln, Nebraska, he married Marian J. Barrie, who survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Judith Hojnacki of Aurora, Ill., Margaret "Peggy" Peterson of Sebring, Fla., and Debra Parcell of Elkhart; five sons, Richard Swan of Houston, TX, William Swan of Bremen, IN., James Swan of Walkerton, IN., USAF Major George F. "Fred" Swan of Rapid City, SD, and Christopher Swan of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; 24 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Irma Evans, and one brother, Robert Swan, both of Fayetteville, NC. Along with his parents, two brothers, C. Lyle Swan and Arthur Swan, both preceded him in death.

Mr. Swan was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant on November 8, 1945, from the United States Army. He served in Europe during World War II as a combat zone reconnaissance officer with the 103rd calvary troop. He was awarded a bronze star and two purple hearts. He was a member of the American Legion Post 363 in Lakeville, past director of the St. Joseph County 4-H Fair Board, past president of the Lakeville Lions Club, past secretary of the Union Township Advisory Board, and was an adult leader for many years for the boy scouts and 4-H club. Mr. Swan was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, and retired from poultry farming in 1970. He was also a past school bus driver in Union Township before joining the inspection department, Animal Science Division of Purdue University, where he retired from this position in 1979.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 5, 2000, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on U.S. 31. Rev. Thomas King will officiate. Military graveside services and burial will follow at Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend. Friends may visit with the family from 4-8 P.M. today at the Palmer Funeral Home, 314 S. Michigan Street, Lakeville, where a Rosary will be held at 4:00 P.M. by the Rosary society of the church. Contributions in memory of George D. Swan may be donated to the Elkhart General Community Hospice, 2020 Industrial Parkway, Elkhart, IN 46516.