Howard Swanson

Howard E. Swanson, age 96, beloved husband of the late Jean H. Swanson, nee Horn. Devoted father of Kristen (Andreas) Dimas and Ericka Swanson. Cherished grandfather of Nickolas, Sophia, Isabel, Alexandra, the late Daniel, Christos, and Fiona. Loving son of the late Olaf Swanson and Louise Swanson, nee Sundstrom. Brother-in-law to the late Henry (Elizabeth) Horn, David (Rosalind) Horn, the late William (Lorraine) Horn, Charles (Rita) Horn, Marguerite (the late Tom) McFadden, Richard Horn, Eleanor (Johannes) Grotzky, Michael (Patricia) Horn, and Andrew (Martha) Horn. Inspirational uncle to Catherine, Rose, Jennifer, Eric, the late Christian, Bill, Rachel, Sarah, Kathleen, Michael, Heather, Ben, Daniel, Judy, David, Bart, the late Alexa, Juliana, Laura, and Claire. Friend to many.

Howard was born in 1927 in Melrose Park to Olaf and Louise Swanson, and grew up an only child on the south side of Chicago. His father came to the United States from Skane, Sweden. His mother was born in the US after her family emigrated from Dalarna, Sweden. Howard attended Ray School in Hyde Park, and began his passion for violin at the age of 11 with lessons at Hull House Music School. Howard lost his father when he was 15. His mother, his Aunt Levon, and his grandmother, Eva Erika were influential in raising him. His mother worked hard to provide for their family as a single mom in challenging times.

Howard attended Tilden High School, where he was Adjustment Office Guard, Civic Letter, on the Honor Club and the Orchestra. He graduated in January 1945 and immediately enlisted in the US Army, answering the call common to many young men during WWII. He was sent to Michigan State University for officer training, then served as an Administrative NCO for 3 years in France and Germany, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. During his service, Howard reconnected with his roots by popping in for a visit to his father’s family in Sweden. That visit forged family bonds that continue to this day.

Upon his return to the US, Howard attended the Cosmopolitan School of Music to major in Violin under the instruction of Hull House Music School director Nesta Smith, through a Phi Beta scholarship. During his conservatory years he was concertmaster and soloist with the Cosmopolitan School orchestra and principal second violinist for the Chicago Civic Orchestra. Howard studied conducting with Tauno Hannikainen, former assistant conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He continued on to serve as principal second violinist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra, then in the Houston Symphony, after which he returned to Chicago.

Howard then attended Illinois Institute of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1966. He also attended church and sang in the choir at Augustana Lutheran Church in Hyde Park. It was there he met Jean Horn, who had moved from the east coast and was serving in campus ministry at the church. Over the course of the winter and infamous blizzard of 1967, Jean and Howard fell in love while slipping and sliding on the icy sidewalks. They were married on September 2, 1967 at University Lutheran Church in Cambridge, MA with Jean’s father officiating. Howard happily became a part of the large, wonderfully loud Horn family who affectionately nicknamed him the “Super Swede.” Howard and Jean moved from Hyde Park to the Morgan Park neighborhood in 1968 and welcomed their first daughter Kristen in 1969, then Ericka in 1971.

Howard’s passion for music continued alongside his career at Joslyn Manufacturing as an electrical engineer. Over the course of his engineering career, he developed many patents for the company related to the production of lightning arresters. Howard played for the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra and Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. He also played chamber music with several music colleagues who became another meaningful set of family for him, Jean and the girls. Anyone who spent time at the Swanson house was keenly aware of the beautiful music emanating from the upstairs study where Howard practiced his violin. Music was an integral part of family life, with both daughters studying instruments in the elementary years, and Jean playing violin duets with Howard in church services. Education and the arts in general were always nurtured in the Swanson home, and it was a welcome place for neighborhood friends to gather with the girls.

Howard lovingly supported and admired Jean’s passions and talents in her volunteer efforts, which led her to a successful later-life career with Chicago Public Schools. Date night out to dinner was every week, family dinner time at the table was sacred, and family vacations were planned every summer either visiting historic sites or family. Most of those trips were taken in the family car with no air conditioning, a spray bottle of water to keep cool, and sibling squabbles over back-seat territory.

Howard’s devotion to Jean and their daughters was second-to-none. As a father, he was attentive, loving, generous with his time, funny, and gentle but strict. He had high expectations, was always supportive, and was an expert at delivering advice on all practical matters. His explanations were so detailed they were often accompanied by diagrams drawn on the closest writing surface available. He drew joy from sitting back and letting his family shine in their own unique ways. He was adored by his wife and daughters and anyone who met him.

Howard’s devotion to his daughters continued with his grandchildren. As a grandfather, he became Superman. He had a way with babies, pulled littles in wagons around the neighborhood, on outings, and on vacations near and far. As the grandchildren matured, he was a constant fan at sporting events, band concerts, dance recitals, math and architecture camps, and graduations. He was there in a moment’s notice for good times and hard times.

Howard and Jean spent their later years in the community at Smith Village. There, he was active in floor olympics, bean bag tournaments, gardening club, exercise classes and on long walks around the neighborhood. He and Jean developed close friendships at Smith. This special community lent their support at the sudden loss of grandson Daniel Howard, and then his loving wife Jean. It comforts the family to know they are all reunited. The memories he worked so hard to create are sustaining. Howard’s legacy will never be forgotten by his family and friends.

Visitation 10:00 am, with Funeral Service directly following at 11:30 am, on Saturday, June 22 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church-9401 S. Oakley Ave., Chicago IL 60643. Interment private. A live-stream of the service will be available. Please visit Howard's obituary on Colonial Chapel's website at colonialchapel.com to view the live-stream of the service.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE LIVE STREAM

In lieu of flowers, memorials to:

AVM Research Foundation
179 Windfair Loop
Montgomery, TX 77316.
Click Here To Donate Online

or

Lewy Body Dementia Association
912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Ste. 205
Lilburn, GA 30047
Click Here To Donate Online
are appreciated.

Below is a photo tribute celebrating Howard's life.