Carmen I. Swanson

Carmen I. Swanson 84, of Kingsford, passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Dickinson County Hospital in Iron Mountain. Carmen was born on November 22, 1934 in Iron Mountain, daughter of the late Rudolph and Marguerite (Jaehnig) Peterson. She has been a lifelong resident of this area and was a 1952 graduate of Iron Mountain High School. She married Irwin James Swanson on November 28, 1953. Carmen worked for Red Owl Grocery locally and following her marriage, she and her husband operated Jim’s Market in East Kingsford for many years. Carmen also worked for several years as a florist for Miller Floral in Kingsford. She retired from Miller’s to care for her mother. Following her mother’s death, Carmen became caregiver for her grandchildren. This was the job she most loved. She enjoyed crocheting and made special blankets for all of her grandchildren. She took great pride in her yard and was a talented flower gardener. Carmen also enjoyed traveling or just taking a ride with one of her family members. Her greatest joy was spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband I. James “Jim”, her granddaughter, Jessica Paupore-Recla; great grandson, Kyllean Hilyard; son in law; Paul Strabavy; her brother, Frank Peterson; sisters, Charlotte Mason, Jean Conte and Dinalda LaRoux Carmen is survived by her five children, Tim (Renee’) Swanson of Kingsford, Sheryl Strabavy of Whiting, Indiana, Karen (Paul) Paupore of Kingsford, Pam (Dennis) Smart of Niagara and Cindi (Brad) Strehlow of KIngsford. Sisters; Marguerite Reiten of Kingsford and Dorothy Manko of Iron Mountain. Grandchildren, Elizabeth Swanson, Morgan (Jesse) Hilyard, Ryan (Elizabeth) Zurek, Kevin (Kim) Zurek, Paul (Dana) Strabavy, Buddy Paupore, Adam (Kristi Bryner) Smart, Amanda (Drew) Melotte, Piper, Maggie and Clairice Strehlow. Great grandchildren, Gracie, Eevie, Ezra, Zola, Devlin, Nolund, Daniel, Carly, Sloane, Matthew, Marlowe, Zachary, Tim, Jayce, Arieana, Isabella, Lauren and their mother, Lean, Connor, Dalayna and Andrew. She is also Auntie Cartz to many special nieces and nephews. Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 16th from 9:00am until 11:00am at Trinity United Methodist Church in Iron Mountain. Memorial services will follow at 11:00am Wednesday at the church. Rev. Geri Hamlen will officiate. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in her memory. Condolences to the family of Carmen Swanson may be expressed online at www.ernasfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home with the arrangements

Carmen I. Swanson

November 22, 1934 - October 12, 2019