Ernest J. Swanson, 96, of Grinnell, died on Monday, January 5, 2015, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 9, 2015, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Music will be provided by Laurie White, pianist. Casket Bearers will be Dennis Swanson, Kimberly Shay, Daniel Swanson, Kristina Vainio, Laurie White, Lynnette Galloway, Jennifer Eicher, Jacqueline Eicher, Chelsea Swanson, Justin Swanson, Kendra Swanson, Jeffery Allen, Michael Quernemoen, Margaret Quernemoen, Stephanie Quernemoen, Sarah Nelson, Shanna York and Cale Swanson. Interment will be at the Ivy Hill Cemetery in Malcom. A luncheon will be held at the Malcom Auditorium following the service at the cemetery. Should friends desire, memorials may be directed to the St. Francis Manor Foundation and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell beginning 12 noon on Thursday and the family will be present at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Ernest was born on July 25, 1918, on the family farm near Malcom, Iowa to John and Lydia Hagenlock Swanson. He was raised in the Malcom area and graduated from Malcom High School with the Class of 1936. On January 18, 1940, he was married to Hazel Olson in Waterloo, Iowa. The couple farmed northwest of Malcom and raised four children. Besides operating a grain and livestock farm he worked from 1977 to 1986 at the PEC on the campus of Grinnell College Ernest and Hazel moved into the community of Malcom in 1982 and later moved to Grinnell. In 2006, they moved to Seeland Park to make their final home. He was very active in the Malcom community and served on the Malcom Co-op Elevator Board, the Ivy Hill Cemetery Board and the ASCS Board. He also served on the Grinnell-Newburg Board of Education and he was a former Trustee of Malcom Township. He was passionate about his faith and his family. He chose to serve the Lord at an early age and was faithful to his choice until the very end. Ernest and Hazel were gracious hosts of the Malcom convention on their farm until they moved to the town of Malcom in 1982. He also enjoyed woodworking projects, traveling and helping out on the family farm. Survivors include his children, James (Diana) Swanson of Carrollton, Texas, Judith (James) Eicher of Waterloo, Iowa, Robert (Denise) Swanson of Des Moines, Iowa and Richard (Linda) Swanson of Malcom, Iowa; 18 grandchildren; and 20 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and three sisters, Ann Grinstead, Martha Hewitt and Esther Schraw.