SERGEANT BLUFF -- E. Burnell Swanson, 79, of Sergeant Bluff died Monday, April 13, 2009, at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Morningside Lutheran Church, 700 S. Martha St., Sioux City. Private graveside services will be at a later date in Lyons, Neb. Visitation with the family will be 6 to 8 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Burnell was born Jan. 20, 1930, in West Point, Neb., the son of Edward and Violet (Renander) Swanson. He was raised on a farm near Lyons, Neb. and graduated from Lyons High School in 1947. He attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1950 and a master's of science degree in 1956.
On Dec. 9, 1950, he married Barbara Wallerstedt of Oakland, Neb. They first made their home in Blair, Neb., where he taught vocational agriculture for five years at Blair High School. He then joined the Ralston Purina Company in 1956 as a district manager. They then moved to Sioux City, where they lived until 1990, when they moved to Sergeant Bluff.
After retiring from a 30-year career with Ralston Purina, he started an agriculture-related business located in both Sioux Falls, S.D. and Norfolk, Neb. In later years, he sold cars and recently delivered cars for many area dealers.
He was a member of Morningside Lutheran Church. While serving as a council member, he acted as the vice president from 2003 to 2004 and president twice (1970 and 2005 to 2007). He was a member of the Lutheran Church in Mission for Christ men's group, Abu Bekr Shrine, Alpha Zeta, Pheasants Forever and was a University of Nebraska alumni lifetime member. He also served as a member and past president of the Sunrise Retirement Community board of directors. He enjoyed pheasant hunting, sporting clays and gardening.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara; a daughter, Sheila (John) McIntyre of Centennial, Colo.; a sister, Marilyn Bliss of Montgomery, Ala.; a niece, Sara (Roy) Kiser of Hoover, Ala.; and many other nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Claudia Ann.
Memorials may be given to Morningside Lutheran Church.