Robert A. Swan

Funeral service for Robert Arthur Swan, 81, of Eveleth, formerly of Palo and Zim, will be 10am Saturday, January 9, 2016 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Palo with Pastor Barbara Hegfors officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Rauha Cemetery in White Township, MN. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Robert died Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Essentia Health – St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. Robert was born January 4, 1934 in Newfolden, MN to Arthur and Annabelle (Windahl) Swan. He attended Sunnyside and Fairview Country Schools near Newfolden. Following his schooling, he worked on the family farm and later married Beverly Reierson on August 15, 1953 in Thief River Falls, MN. Following their marriage, they continued working on the farm. Later they moved to the Iron Range where Robert worked on the construction of Erie Mining Company. They returned to Newfolden to farm for a short time and finally settled back on the Iron Range. Here, he worked for Eveleth Taconite and retired from there as a service truck driver in 1995. He was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and assisted in the building of the new church. Robert was a member of the Palo-Markham Sr. Citizens. He and his wife enjoyed wintering in the southwest states in their RV with friends for many years. Robert was also an avid fisherman and hunter and especially enjoyed deer hunting with son, Robbie and daughter-in-law, Judy. Survivors include his children: Laurie (Daniel) Oates of Eveleth, Audrey (Clark) Blackwood of Eveleth, Kathy (John) Tretter of Kila, MT, Robert (Judy) Swan of Saginaw and Scot Swan of Hoyt Lakes; 11 grandchildren: Daryl Swan, Lisa Swan, Carrie Blough, Nicole Blackwood, Katy Kuball, Spencer Oates, Kayla Oates, Jennifer Swan, Justin Finke, Molly Tretter, Anna Belle Tretter; 11 Great Grandchildren; Siblings: Joyce Knutson, Sonya (Gaylord) Pederson and James (Mary Ann) Swan; numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Beverly; son, Terry; siblings: Vernon Swan, Wendell Swan, Lois Maki, Jean Grindeland and Dorothy Swanson.