Lloyd Lee Swalve, born in Buffalo Center, Iowa, June 14, 1946, died peacefully at the Gundersen Care Center in Harmony, Minn., on June 25, 2024.
Lloyd was the fifth of six sons born to George and Gesina (Janssen) Swalve. Lloyd graduated from Wells-Easton High School, Wells, Minn., in 1964. He continued his education at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Stout graduating with a BS degree in Industrial Education.
On May 13, 1967, he married Joan Lyon of Galesville, Wis. They adopted two children, Travis in 1972 and Nadine in 1975. Joan later died of cancer after a long battle with diabetes.
He moved his family to Adams- Friendship, where he taught two years. He then returned to Stout and in 1971 graduated with a Master of Science in Vocational Administration.
From 1972-1978 he was the Vocational Education coordinator, Park Falls, Wis., where he coordinated high school vocational programs in five districts. From 1978-1982 he took on the position of Vocational Education director, in Wadena, Minn., where programs were offered to a consortium of six neighboring school districts. In 1983 Lloyd returned to college at the U of MN, where he earned a Nursing Home Administrator License.
His first position at his new career led him to Olivia Health Care Center, Olivia, Minn., a 94 bed facility. He worked there until 1987. From 1987-1994 he was the executive director at the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Services where there were 154 beds, along with providing oversight to the 40 unit Maplewood Residence independent living. His last move in 1994 was to Caledonia Care and Rehab, which was a continuum of care campus including a 50 bed nursing home; 36 units of assisted living in the areas known as Roseview Court and Buckley Apartments. The facility also offered 20 client adult day care, 60 client personal electronic security LifeLine Program, and 20 client home delivered Meals on Wheels Program.
Lloyd retired in 2013. In 1995 he married Linda Krosch and they lived in Spring Grove with Linda’s daughter Ann. They later moved to the country two miles west of Mabel. Lloyd’s favorite pastimes included working with his woodworking tools and driving through the area looking for implement dealerships. Sometimes he would stop the car, get out and sit a while on a good-looking tractor. He was a very “handy husband” and would tackle most anything.
He said he preferred wiring over plumbing, because wiring “doesn’t leak.” Lloyd will be missed as a Lions member, where he was active in both Caledonia and Mabel, and at the United Methodist Church in Caledonia where he served on the trustee board and was the treasurer for several years. He was very proud of being on the board of directors of the SE MN Area Agency on Aging and helping to start the Mabel Area Aging Association.
He will be missed by many, especially his two brothers, Arlo and Cecil; his children Travis, Nadine and Ann; and his wife Linda.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joan, and siblings Larry, Lewis and Alan.
A service for Lloyd will be held Sunday, June 30, 2024, at the Mabel United Methodist Church, 111 West Newburg, at 2 p.m.
Mengis Funeral Home, Mabel is assisting the family.
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