Neubert W. Swanson

Neubert William Swanson,88 of Moose Lake, died Monday, July 16, 2007 in Mercy Health Care Center, Moose Lake. He was born at home to Andrew William Swanson and Ella Victoria (Wahlstrom) Swanson on May 12, 1919 in Braham, Minnesota. He attended 12 years of school in Braham and loved baseball and wrestling. Neubert graduated from Braham High School in 1937. He worked for Bell Telephone as a lineman, with his father. Neubert moved to Moose Lake to work for his uncle, Charles Handschu, as an assistant civil engineer, doing drafting and field work for surveys of water and sewer systems. He met Gladys Ellen Buehre in Moose Lake and they were married July 24, 1941. Neubert was inducted into the Army Air Corps on July 13, 1942, when his son, Gary, was just 21 days old. He underwent training and became a single engine pilot, and went on to become a flight engineer as an instructor for the B-29 plane. He loved his time in the service and often wished he'd remained in the service and made it a career. Neubert was honorably discharged on October 13, 1945 and returned to Moose Lake where he and his family remained. In the early 50's, he and an associate formed the Arcon Construction Company, which still today remains a leader in the sewer and water construction industry. After leaving Arcon, Neubert started the Candid Construction Company and spent years installing custom sewage systems locally, and also completed a large contract for a luxury home builder in Minneapolis. He was very proud of his custom systems, and enjoyed the trade, but felt it kept him away from home and family too much. He took over his uncle's surveying business upon his uncle's retirement, became a registered land surveyor doing private survey work and also became Carlton County Surveyor until his retirement. Throughout his life, he enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing, and loved working in his shop. Whether it be forging or welding, he loved creating things from steel. If he needed a tool, he did not buy it - he made it. He was an avid reader, from his daily newspaper to western novels, hunting books, history of the Old West - to encyclopedias. He'd read any and all, cover to cover. Neubert was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church in Moose Lake, Minnesota, the Moose Lake American Legion and the NRA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Ella; his wife of 44 years, Gladys Swanson in 1985; three sisters, Doris Tobeck, Ione Korff and Jane Strohkirch. He is survived by two sons, Gary L. (Wendy) Swanson of Beaverton, Oregon and Andy W. Swanson of Kinder, Louisiana; a daughter, Victoria (Marvin) Paulson of Barnum, Minnesota; 8 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; a brother, LeRoy (Norma) Swanson of Stillwater, Minnesota; a sister, Mable Ann Moses of Sandstone, Minnesota; two brothers-in-law, George Strohkirch of Saint Paul, Minnesota and William Korff of Faribault, Minnesota and many nieces and nephews. Neubert did not want a service. He wished to be cremated and will be laid to rest in Fort Snelling National Cemetery. No gifts or memorials, please. He only wished that you remember him.