Harold Swan

Funeral service for Harold Swan will be Monday July 16th, 2012 10:00 am at the Campo Wesleyan Church in Campo Colorado. Mr. Swan passed away at the South East Colorado Hospital Long Term Care Center in Springfield, Colorado on July 9th, 2012 at the age of 89. Community Visitation will be held at Maltbie Funeral Services 265 West 8th Ave. in Springfield, CO on Sunday July 15th from 2pm-4pm. A funeral service will also be held Tuesday, July 17th in Arthur Nebraska with interment to follow at the Arthur Cemetery. Harold Eldon Willis Swan was born on January 21st 1923, in Lewellen, Nebraska, and ran through the gates of heaven on July 9th, 2012. He was the fifth of seven children born to Frank and Hazel (Mecham) Swan: a ranching family from the sandhills of Nebraska. Harold was preceded in death by his wife, Ola Mae Swan, one son, Baby Boy Swan, one daughter Annetta Adair, one grandson, Amoriah Adair, one great-granddaughter, Kylie Rhoads, his parents, three brothers, and two sisters. He is survived by his sister, Naomi Vanhuss, his children: Carol England and husband Daryle. Richard Swan and wife Vivian, and Esther England and husband LeRoy. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Of Carol’s family: Chris England, wife Wendy, and their children Kyler, Caden, and Abigail. Charlotte Nettleton, husband Todd, and children Kameron and Kedrick. Of Annetta’s Family: Amy Rhoads, husband Carl, and children Kourtney, Klayton, Karson, and Krysta. Amoretta Poindexter, and husband Brad. And Amos England. Of Esther’s family: Alicia Winn, husband James, and children Jerah, Janae, and Julianna. Celeste Engbrecht, husband Zach, and children Jenna and Josiah. Cherilyn England, and Megan England. Harold became a Christian at a young age while picking up corn from a bin. His family had been attending a revival, and God had been working on his heart. As he picked up ears of corn and put them in the baskets, he laid an ear on the window sill for each bushel. Because he was paid by the bushel, he thought it profitable to add an extra ear occasionally. Finally, he began to feel such conviction from his dishonesty that he began to pray for God’s forgiveness and there became a child of God. Harold's father died when Harold was twelve, and he quit school after eighth grade to help run the ranch until it sold in 1945. In June of that year, he met the love of his life at a church camp meeting. They went on their first date at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. Now as some of you know, there are many hills in that area and during their walk, Ola Mae tripped and fell right into Harold’s arms. He later said that he didn’t intend to ever let go. She wasn’t so quick to catch on, however. It wasn't until months later after selling the ranch and moving his mother to Colorado Springs that he made for Grand Junction, Ola Mae's home. It was September when he arrived, and when asked his reason for coming, he replied he was dear hunting and wasn't going home without his dear (D-E-A-R). He didn’t. Harold and Ola Mae (Miracle) Swan were married on November 15th, 1945, at the Grand Junction Pilgrim Holiness Church. They were married for 64 years. To this union were born Rebecca Carol, Annetta Kae, Baby Boy Swan, Richard Willis, and Esther June. After moving a few times, (from Nebraska, to Grand Junction, to Colorado Springs) and holding a few different jobs (sorting laundry, doing construction work, and planting hollyhocks at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for example) Harold and Ola Mae moved back to the sandhills. They spent most of their married life as a ranching family near Arthur, Nebraska- a life they loved. There they made many lifelong friends and wonderful memories in their baled-hay house. The grandchildren loved to visit in the summers to work on the ranch, a place where they not only learned the value of hard work, but also about even more important characteristics taught by the Godly examples of Harold and Ola Mae. In 1996, Harold and Ola Mae sold their ranch and retired, moving to Campo, Colorado, to be near Esther and her family. There they lived until moving to the Springfield Long Term Care Center in 2009. If his life could be summed up in a few short words, "truth" would be at the top of the list. Honesty was a defining characteristic in Harold’s life. Many times he took a loss or missed an opportunity because of his honesty, but he always felt God rewarded him for his commitment to the truth. He has now received his ultimate reward. In honor of Harold’s legacy, memorial contributions may be given to Global Partners via their website at www.wesleyan.org/gp or by contacting Maltbie Funeral Services (info to follow). Several of Harold’s Grandchildren are missionaries through Global Partners. Maltbie Funeral Services of Springfield have been entrusted with the funeral arrangements 719-523-4543, www.maltbiefuneralservices.com. Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala Nebraska has partnered with Maltbie Funeral Services and they can be reached at 308-284-4021 , www.drauckerfh.com.