Robert Dean Swanson, age 83, of Ames, died on December 15, 2018 at home under hospice care. A visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, January 6, at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1517 Northwestern Avenue, with a memorial service to be held Monday, January 7 at 10:00 a.m. at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Ames. Burial will be at the Iowa State University Cemetery.
Bob was born July 3, 1935 in Cherokee, Iowa to Armena and Albin Swanson, the oldest of four children in the family. He graduated from Cherokee High School in 1953 and the University of Nebraska in 1957. Upon graduation Bob joined Swanson Foods. The grocery business was in Bob's roots. In the early 1900s Peter Swanson, Bob's grandfather, with one hundred dollars and a team of oxen with a wagon opened a store in his log cabin to supply the Thorhult, Minnesota area with provisions. From this evolved Swanson Stores, a grocery business established by Bob's father Al. Bob's involvement with Swanson Stores began at age 11 when he candled eggs and sacked potatoes. By 1966 Bob was president of Swanson Stores. In 1969 the twelve Swanson Stores in Iowa and Minnesota merged with HyVee.
After a short continuation in the grocery business as a HyVee store manager and then owner of his own supermarket in Wisconsin, Bob's career shifted to academia. He earned his MBA from the University of Denver and his Ph.D. degree in accounting and taxation from the University of Iowa in 1977. Bob was on faculty at Michigan State University and Kearney State College before joining Iowa State University from 1982 to his retirement in 2003.
On November 13, 1993, Bob married Patricia Titus and their two families were merged. Bob and Pat shared careers at Iowa State and a love of the Cyclones, Arizona winters, and investing.
Bob's academic specialty was federal taxation. While the content of his courses was rigorous, he taught with precision and humor and enjoyed hearing from his students how he prepared them for their professional exams and careers. Among his many professional associations was the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of which he was a member of the National Tax Committee. Another highlight of Bob's years at Iowa State was serving on the Athletics Council.
Bob was a golf enthusiastic. He was on his high school golf team as well as during his freshman year at Whittier College. Bob enjoyed telling how he met Ben Hogan in 1960 at the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills in Denver after receiving a press pass for a small Sioux City newspaper. Bob golfed in Ames at the Ames Golf and Country Club (where he served on the board). His Thursday foursome and Tuesday morning golf breakfast group were weekly must-dos.
Bob had type 1 diabetes for 66 years. He saw many advances in the treatment of diabetes during his lifetime and diligently monitored his glucose levels which led to a much longer life than expected.
In addition to his professional organizations, Bob was a member of Bethesda Lutheran Church, Ames Rotary, the ISU Cyclone Club, Stone Brooke Home Owners Association Board, and the Ames Planning and Zoning Commission.
Bob's children and grandchildren were important to him. Although never becoming adept at, he learned the basics of technology and social media in order to keep up with their lives. Friendships were also important to Bob and he loved his weekday coffee group that discussed all things Cyclone.
Bob is survived by his wife Pat of Ames; three children from his marriage to Karen Wright Swanson -- Rob Swanson of Tucson, Arizona; Nancy Osman (Richard) of Petaluma, California; and Joel Swanson (Selena) of Des Moines, Iowa; one son, Jonathan Titus (Yue) welcomed into the family from his marriage to Pat; and twelve grandchildren -- Elena Swanson; Bethany, Lydia, Gabe, Evie, and Lillian Swanson; Hadley, Elyse, and Will Osman; and Alex and Declan Titus.
He is also survived by his sister Karen (Robert) Wooldridge., brothers-in-law Robert Ament (Kathy) and Jerry Christenson (Carol), many nieces and nephews, and family he acquired through Pat. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Marilyn Ament and Janet Christenson.
Memorials may be directed to Bethesda Lutheran Church (1517 Northwestern Ave., Ames) or the Iowa State University College of Business scholarship fund (Iowa State University Foundation, 2505 University Blvd, Ames).
Online condolences may be directed to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com