Wayne Dale Swanson

Wayne Dale Swanson, 71, passed away at the Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka, KS on Wednesday, September 27, 2006. He was born February 9, 1935 in Marysville, KS, the son of Raymond and Myrtle Swanson. He was raised in Abilene, KS and in 1953 graduated from Abilene High School where he held the half mile record in track for over forty years. He attended Kansas University on a track scholarship and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and the KU track team. In 1958 he earned his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. Wayne married Blossom Frakes of Lawrence, KS on October 5, 1957.

Upon graduation from KU, Wayne entered the US Marine Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant, and embarked upon a training program to become a jet pilot. While stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, however, he contracted polio, then moved to Topeka to be near his family and the local V.A. hospital in 1959. He retired from the Marine Corps due to his disability. In 1967 he received a M.S. degree in mathematics from Emporia State University.

He was a staunch supporter of the Kansas Jayhawks and attended home basketball and football games religiously. Wayne was an avid duplicate bridge player and earned the ranking of Life Master from the American Contract Bridge League. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and the KU Alumni Association, a member of the Topeka Jayhawk Club and K-Club, plus a longtime contributor to the KU Williams Educational Fund. Wayne dearly loved and enjoyed his family and organized frequent gatherings.

Survivors include: his wife Blossom Swanson of Topeka; son Brent Swanson and his wife Suzette and two children, Brianna and Westley, of Fullerton, CA; daughter Beth Swanson and her husband Kevin Rowe and four children, Rachael, Caitlin, Kelley and Mackenna, of Kearny, MO; his brother Lee Swanson and wife Edna May of Enterprise, Kansas; his sister Alice Base and her husband Jack of Abilene, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews. A sister, Shirley Rice, and two grandsons, Michael Wayne Rowe and Ryan Joseph Rowe, preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 30, 2006 at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Avenue. Burial will follow at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery & Mausoleum. He will lie in state after 1 p.m. today at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. this evening. Memorial contributions may be made to Topeka Rescue Mission, 600 N. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66608-1240. To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabel.com.