Michael Swanson
Michael Swanson of Columbia died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. He was 59 years old.
He was born Dec. 16, 1951, in Tooele, Utah, to Leland and Norma (Pierson) Swanson. He married Eileen Ewens on Aug. 29, 1990.
The people who knew Mr. Swanson considered him to be good-natured and always ready with a joke. He had a nickname for almost everyone and loved to barbecue. His wife, Eileen Swanson, said he was a hardworking and loving man who liked to travel.
“We used to take trips all the time,” she said. “It was always an adventure with Mike.”
Many of his wife's fondest memories of him involve their children. Mr. Swanson had a unique and subtle way of disciplining his children. Once when his daughter misbehaved, he had her dig a large hole in the backyard. He enjoyed his family and treasured quiet times with them.
“He was a good dad,” Eileen Swanson said.
Mr. Swanson loved cars and was a member of the Nostalgia Superstock Club — an association for exhibition car racing. His good friend John Rousset, also a member of the club, said Mr. Swanson was a great mechanic. He fixed up and sold rare cars and was always willing to help others with their cars as well.
“He was more than willing to help anybody that needed anything,” Rousset said.
Mr. Swanson is survived by his wife, Eileen; mother, Norma Barker of Tooele, Utah; stepmother, Barbara Swanson of St. George, Utah; four children, Michelle Luebbering and her husband, Philip, of St. Thomas, Emily Fosnow and her husband, Daniel, of Jamestown, and Lee Swanson and Steven Swanson, both of Columbia; three grandchildren, Michael, Claire and Sabrina Luebbring, all of St. Thomas; five brothers; and three sisters.
His father, Leland Swanson, died earlier.
Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m Wednesday and 9 to 10 a.m Thursday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services will follow the visitation on Thursday.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, 1900 N. Providence Road, Suite 105, Columbia, MO 65202.
Condolences can be posted at memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com.
