William C. Swanson, 92, passed away peacefully on 14 August 2024 in Lawrence, Kansas. He was born on 6 September 1931 in Kane, Pennsylvania to Clarence and Margaret Shortt Swanson. He graduated from Kane High School in 1949, and joined the US Navy the same year.  

He did Navy basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, then was stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida, where he trained to be a jet engine mechanic. After his training, he transferred to Naval Air Station Quonset Point in Rhode Island. In 1952, through mutual friends, he met the love of his life, Phyllis Dearman. They married in 1953, beginning their more than seventy years together. After leaving military service, he decided to move his young family back to his home town. There Bill worked numerous places, including as a machinist at Stackpole Carbon Company, and later in maintenance at the Ceramagnet Division. But the job he retired from he loved the best, a Kane Area School District Middle School custodian.   

Bill was an avid outdoorsman. He adored fishing of all types, deep water, ocean, and ice, but his favorite was stream fishing.  He loved the water, spending countless hours boating and canoeing. Hiking all the local trails was another popular pastime. He also enjoyed time in the garden, raising a multitude of crops over the years, and puttering about the yard. Travel was always a priority, visiting friends, relatives, and his son and daughter-in-law Dave and Cindy.   Together with Phyllis, they visited every state except Alaska and Hawaii, as well as Germany, France, England, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Bill was very active with Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served on the ushering crew many years, eventually leading the team, and was always available to help out the church men’s activities.  He also served as a member of, then later co-president with wife Phyllis, the Kane Area Food Pantry.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Margaret Swanson, wife Phyllis Swanson, infant brothers Jack and Tom Swanson, and daughter Laurel Sundberg.

He will be deeply missed by his son David and his wife, Cindy of Lawrence, Kansas, grand-daughters Nisse Sundberg (Kevin Auman) and Annika Sundberg (David Felten), nieces, cousins, friends, and colleagues, who remember him for his gentle ways and generous nature.

Visitation will be at Cummings Funeral Home on Tuesday August 20 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, August 21 at 11:00 a.m. at Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church (In Nelson Hall), with burial at Mt. Tabor Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.cummingsfh.com.