Cleon E. Swain

Cleon Elliott Swain, 85, of Fort Collins passed away Friday, March 18, 2011, at Pathways Hospice, McKee Medical Center. Cleon was born March 16, 1926 in Moorehead, Iowa to Olga and Norval Swain. Cleon grew up and helped run the family farm near Soldier, Iowa. He and his brother Willard enlisted in the Navy in January, 1944. After basic training, he served with the 5th Anphibs of the Marines on the island of Sai Pan. He was Honorably Discharged from service in May 1946. After the military he became an auto mechanic and owned and operated a filling station in Soldier Iowa. He also operated the local school bus in Soldier. He married Helen Rude on January 4th 1950 in Soldier, Iowa. They moved to Fort Collins in 1955. Cleon worked in the lumber business until 1966 when he started working for the Atmospheric Science Department at Colorado State University until his retirement in 1986. Cleon was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Life Member of Ft. Collins Elks Lodge 804. He also was a member of the American Legion and past member of the Moose Lodge. His hobbies included; golf, woodworking, going to Black Hawk, traveling and visiting with family and friends. He is survived by; a daughter, Linda Hiskett of Ft. Collins, three sons, Randy Mary Swain, Jim Swain and Jeff Faith Swain all of Ft. Collins; two brothers, Willard of California and Milton of Iowa; two sisters, Carma Ed Gary and Norma Jean Perry of Arizona; four grandchildren and one-step grandchild. Preceding Cleon in death are his wife, Helen; one sister, Colleen Gallagher; two brothers, Ron and Myron and one step-grandchild. Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church, Pathways Hospice, Elks Foundation or charity of your choice in care of Bohlender Fuenral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort collins, Colorado 80524. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 23rd at 2:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Stuart St. with the Revs. Gabi and Meghan Aelabouni officiating. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery