Kenneth Swanson

Breaux Bridge - Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Monday, April 11, 2011, at Pellerin Funeral Home Chapel in Breaux Bridge, for Kenneth Manfred Swanson, 87, who passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at St. Martinville Nursing and Rehab Center in St. Martinville. Reverend Luther Burney, of First Baptist Church, Lafayette, will officiate at the funeral service. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Sycamore, Illinois. Mr. Swanson was born on March 13, 1924 in DeKalb, Illinois to Swan and Ida Mattson Swanson, who were natives of Sweden. He was inducted into the United States Army on June 19, 1943, and went on to courageously serve his country in World War II, actively fighting in the campaigns of the invasion of Normandy, Northern France, and Rhineland. He was the recipient of three Overseas Service Bars, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle-Eastern Theater Ribbon with three Bronze Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Croix de Guerre Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged from service on January 26, 1946. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Swanson was a brick mason, by trade, and in his free time he enjoyed fishing, traveling, working puzzles, and watching football. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Viking Lodge in Rockford, Illinois. Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Alberta Hayward Swanson of Breaux Bridge, LA; his son, Larry Bowman and his wife, Helen, of Port Orange, FL; his daughter, Sue Campbell and her husband, Paul, of Breaux Bridge, LA; 4 grandchildren, Sherry Bowman, Scott Bowman, Dan Blessing, and Barbara Giglio; 16 grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two grandchildren; his brother, George Swanson; and his nephew, Fred. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the funeral home on Monday, April 11, 2011, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 10:45 a.m. Pellerin Funeral Home , 211 Berard St. , Breaux Bridge, LA 70517 (337.332.2199) is in charge of arrangements. To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and , go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com