Nicholas Robert Swanson

Nicholas Swanson of Pine City passed away Monday, December 31, 2018 at Bethesda Long Term Care Hospital in St. Paul at the age of 33.

Nicholas Robert Swanson was born on March 20, 1985 to Charles Swanson and Juli (Mattson) Swanson in Mora, Minnesota.  He was a fighter from the start; the day he was to be released from the hospital it was discovered that he had apnea.  He came home with monitors and wires and continued to have episodes where his heart would stop.  When he was 3 years he had heart surgery on a pulmonary vein.  Nicholas was one of the first few children that experienced an echo-cardiogram.

Nick graduated from Pine City High School and attended gunsmithing courses at Pine Technical Institute (a.k.a. Pine Technical and Community College).  He worked many jobs throughout his life, some of his favorites were: Canadian Waters in Ely, cooking at the Amery Memory Care Center and at Dummy’s in Forest Lake, working landscaping and tree cutting with his cousin Dan. 

Nick enjoyed hunting and fishing; spending many hours teaching children how to fish.  He was so awesome with the children – they loved Nick.  He never had a harsh word or even raised his voice to them.  He enjoyed traveling and watching documentaries about almost anything from fishing to  the Vikings; he was a wealth of information regarding many subjects.  Nick was a member of the Heimdall Classic Car and Motorcycle Club; participating in benefits for people affected by domestic violence and children battling cancer.  He took it upon himself to raise money for those with traumatic brain injuries by agreeing to shave the long curly hair he loved so much. He also did memory walks with his mom to support the same cause.

Nick was a wonderful man, a great friend, and showed his love for others by his actions.  He would always be there when you needed him.  It will be so hard not to see his beautiful eyes and smile and watch his kindness when dealing with children and especially with his Mom.  Nick was there helping his mom when she had a car accident, he was so gentle and loving. He was dearly loved by his Family and friends, and will be greatly missed. 

Nicholas is survived by his mother Juli Swanson of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin and father Charles Swanson of Pine City; siblings: Byron Swanson of Ranier, Oregon, Chris (Rachel) Hammer of Burnsville, Brent Swanson of Cambridge, Jason (Melissa) Swanson of Brook Park, Joshua Shields of Hinckley; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

He is preceded in death by grandparents Norman (Laverne) Swanson, Shirley (Melvin) Mattson, uncles Roy Mattson and Larry Swanson.

Pastor Barry Schaefer will officiate at funeral services for Nicholas:  11 AM Saturday, January 5, 2019 with a time of visitation and reviewal one hour prior to the service all at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City. 

Funeral arrangements for Nicholas Swanson are entrusted to:  Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel.

FuneralAndCremationService.com