Harry O. Swenson, age 95, a resident of Wheaton, IL, passed away, peacefully on Friday, August 9, 2019 at home.  He was born at home on March 2, 1924 in Salem, Wisconsin to Roy and Evelyn Swenson.

Harry grew up on Camp Lake Road in Salem Township and graduated from Union Free High School in Wilmot, Wisconsin in 1941.  He began college at Milwaukee State Teachers College where he met Virginia Budil a fellow music student.  He entered the Army Air Corps in February of 1943 and received education at Carlton College before serving in Lincoln, Nebraska and in Guam.  After his service he married Virginia in June of 1946.  He studied in the Music Department at Northwestern University where he earned a BA and a Master's Degree in Music.

He worked as a music teacher in Fort Walton, Florida for a year before moving to Paxton, IL where he taught from 1949 until 1964.  While raising a growing family of three, Harry made time (1954-6) to build them a split-level home situated on the border of a natural park.  He worked for many years for School District 214 at Forest View and Elk Grove High Schools while living in Des Plaines.  In the early 1970's he built his own home on 2.5 acres in South Barrington.  He retired in 1976 and remained active in retirement by starting a handyman business in which he enjoyed helping people, at times at his own expense.

Music was integral to his life and Harry loved to sing, teach, compose and arrange music both personally and professionally.  He taught professionally for 27 years and served as choir director for Trinity Methodist Church in Mt. Prospect and published music with Cambiata Press.  It was important to him that his family shared his enjoyment of music and he taught each of his children to sing and play instruments.  Each Christmas he would create musical arrangements based on the instruments that his family played and he enjoyed leading them on the piano as they performed together.  In retirement he continued to sing enthusiastically in barbershop quartettes and chorus, and received many accolades for his accomplishments and contributions.

He was a prolific watercolor artist and recently had a one-man show of his many paintings.  He loved to golf with friends and be at home gardening together with Virginia on his land in South Barrington.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia, three children, Barbara (Joseph) Jakucki of Mesa, AZ, David H. (Cathy) Swenson of Bainbridge Island, WA and Linda (Michael) Krueger of Carol Stream, seven grandchildren, Joanna (Brian) Wilson, Jonathon Jakucki, Kelley and Joel Swenson, and Eric (Alissa), Amy and Steven (Sarah) Krueger, five great-grandchildren, Natalie Wilson, and Patrick, Adalyn, Briana and Eloise Krueger, one brother, Verle (the late Dorothy) Swenson, and nephew Dale (Laura) Swenson.

Sunday October 13, 3:00 pm- Memorial Service will be held at Gary United Methodist Church in Wheaton. Reception to follow at 4:00 at the church.

Monday, October 14, 11:00 am – Interment with Military Honors at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

In memory of Harry's life and his dedication to the art of barbershop harmony for all of mankind, memorial contributions may be made to:

Fox Valley Harmonizers, a non-for-profit corporation and mailed to:

E018 Elgin Chapter, SPEBSQSA, Inc

410 Suffolk Drive

Crystal Lake, IL 60014