Joseph E. Swangler

Joseph E. Swangler, 82, of Dilworth, MN, died Saturday, January 30, 2016, in Palliative Care at Sanford Health, Fargo, ND.

Joseph Edward Swangler was born on April 28, 1933, in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He is the son of Richard P. and Evelyn Corcoran Swangler. Joseph graduated from the Academy of St. James, Grand Forks, ND. He then served in the Navy from 1952 – 1956. He hired out on the Great Northern Railroad as a fireman, in 1957. He moved to Staples, MN, in 1973, as a locomotive engineer. He married Judith Smith on December 17, 1979, in Wadena, MN. They moved to Dilworth, MN, in 1989, where he retired from Burlington Northern Railroad in 1995, after 33 years.

Joseph was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Moorhead, MN. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #157, Grand Forks, MN, a life member of the VFW, Moorhead, MN, and the YMCA of Fargo, ND. He enjoyed spending winters in Arizona and summers at their lake place on Ottertail Lake, golfing, fishing, woodworking, and attending Navy reunions and spending time with family and friends.

Joseph is survived by his wife of 36 years, Judith; daughters, Sandra Larry Cegla, Moorhead, MN, Corrine David Lidenberg, Dilworth, MN, and Susan Michael Hansen, Rothsay, MN; sons, Michael Dow, Moorhead, MN, Thomas Dow, Campbell, MN and William Smith, Fargo, ND; 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; five sisters, Dorothy Lund, Iris Root, and Marlyn Larson, all of Grand Forks, ND, Ann John Janusz, Zanesville, OH, Rose Marvin Kennedy, Moorhead, MN; four brothers, Jerry Evonne, Richard Cheryl and Frank Pat, all of Grand Forks, ND, Edward Carol, Ventura, CA; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard P. and Evelyn Swangler; brothers, George, Michael and James Swangler.

Visitation: Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.

Funeral: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Moorhead, MN.

Interment: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.