John R Swanson Jr.

John R. Swanson Jr. of Irrigon, Oregon died on Sunday, September 11, 2022.

John was born on December 31, 1928, to parents John R Swanson Sr. and Florence Henslee Swanson in Pendleton, Oregon.  John was the only son who did not work for his father in the painting and glass business, as his five brothers did.  John left Pendleton High School in his sophomore year to join the U.S. Army, at the ending of World War II.

John made the Army his career for 21 years.  He spent 10 years in Austria and Germany.  While in Austria he met his first wife Cornelia.  They were married for 27 years and had one son, Johnny.  John served 5 years in Alaska, 13 months in Korea, and 6 months in Vietnam.  He retired on October 30, 1967, as a Sgt. Major E-9. 

After retirement, John returned home to the Pendleton area. In 1968 he purchased a ranch west of Umatilla where he raised cattle for 25 years.  John also went to work for the Umatilla School District in the maintenance department.  After 19 years he retired from that job on July 17, 1980.  Before retiring from the school district, he lost his wife Cornelia to cancer.  Several years later he married Cathryn E. Mishler.  They were married for 30 years before she also lost a battle with cancer.  His son Johnny passed away at 62 years of age from the effects of agent orange, a result of his service in Vietnam.

He was one of nine siblings.  He is survived by his granddaughter, daughter-in-law, 4 step-children and several nieces and nephews.

There will be a 11:00 a.m. graveside service on Friday, September 23, 2022, at Olney Cemetery followed by a Celebration of Life at the Living Word Christian Center, 401 Northgate, Pendleton, Oregon.