Robert Lawrence Swanson

Robert Lawrence Swanson (Bob) passed away on August 1, 2023, in Naperville, at the age of ninety-one, with family at his side. Bob was born on December 23, 1931, in LeMars, Iowa, the oldest child of Lawrence and Marilyn Swanson. Bob graduated from Sanborn High School and attended Iowa State University where he was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity and graduated in Industrial management. His college studies were interrupted for two years by a tour in the army at the end of the Korean War. After college graduation, he accepted a job with Western Electric/AT&T in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to Illinois and promptly met his future wife, June. Six months later, AT&T promoted Bob, he and June were married, and he was working in Manhattan. While in New York, Bob earned his M.B.A. from New York University. His thesis, in the operationalism of supply chain management, was well before its time.

Bob and June moved to Hazlet, New Jersey, where they welcomed their three children. In 1966, another job opportunity allowed the family to move back to the Midwest, where they settled on Atlas Lane, in Naperville, for over 40 years.

Bob always had a quest for knowledge and enthusiasm for life. His steadfast faith, solid work ethic and principles made him a moral compass for his family and friends. Bob worked on the family farm as a child, learning to drive a tractor at age 12, which sparked his love of cars. Helping his father run a hardware store triggered his life long passion for woodworking, building, projects, and gadgets. Bob was known for his immaculate, well organized and well stocked workshop. Meticulously organized, through his life, his family could always count on him to creatively build, fix, or lend his hand with anything. Always impeccably dressed, Bob kept in shape, was always on the go, and enjoyed bicycling into his late 80s.

In their retirement, June and Bob travelled the world. Yet, Bob's favorite vacation remained a month-long camping trip across the U.S.A. with three young children. Times spent with family were most important and treasured. He was a mentor and inspiration to his grandchildren, passing along his love of learning, and many skills.

Bob has been a faithful member of Knox Presbyterian Church in Naperville, for over 50 years, holding leadership positions. Bob was a relentless volunteer, with Kiwanis, AARP Driver's instruction, the DuPage Children's Museum, Pioneers, and others. For the last 15 years, Bob called Monarch Landing home and was a mainstay of the community, instrumental in developing, leading, and/or participating in the woodworking shop, the biking club, the political action committee, the Christian Men's group, and others. Bob loved his Monarch family, and they loved him. His family so appreciates the care and concern provided to him, and to us, in the past few weeks. In Bob's words, he was blessed with a wonderful life. We were all blessed to call him dad, grandad, and friend, for so long.

Bob is predeceased by his wife of 65 years, June Eastman Swanson, and his sister, Ann Swanson Lietz. Bob is survived by his children Stephanie (Gerry) Cassioppi of Naperville, IL, David Swanson of Two Harbors, MN, and Natalie Hemstreet of Saratoga Springs, NY. Bob was especially proud of his grandchildren, Jeffrey Peterson, Andrew Cassioppi, Peter Cassioppi, Rachel Hemstreet and Nathan Hemstreet. A celebration of Bob's life will be held on Sunday, August 27th, at Knox Presbyterian Church, in Naperville. Visitation will be at 1:30 p.m. with a service following at 2:30 p.m. Donations to Knox Presbyterian Church.