Jon Swenson Obituary

Jon R. Swenson, 75, lifelong educator and former Stillwater High School principal died on December 23. He left a legacy of excellence and dedication to quality education. Jon was born January 5, 1936 in Lake Mills, IA to Josephine and T. Melvin Swenson.  He is survived by his wife of 41 years Julene, daughter Sara (Claude Sigmund) and grandson Atticus.

Jon was a 1954 graduate of Lake Mills HS and 1958 Iowa State Teachers College (now Univ. of Northern IA). He received a master’s degree from Northern Colorado University and a doctorate of education from the University of Sarasota, Florida. Post doctorate work was completed with the University of Minnesota-Humphrey Institute, Boston, George Mason and Notre Dame universities. He participated in three Endowment for the Humanities programs at Dartmouth, Harvard and the Catholic University of America. 

His teaching/school administration experiences included high schools in Northwood and Dubuque, IA, DOD American schools in Germany and the Philippines and 20 years as the principal of Stillwater High School.  He retired in 1995 after 20 years as the school principal. His many years of service were capped by his receiving four prestigious awards: Principal of the Year (1989) from the MN High School Press Association, MN Alliance for the Arts School Administrator award (1991), the Twin Cities Suburban Conference Fine Arts Leadership award (1995) and District 834/School Business Partnership award for significant contributions in the leadership of building the SAHS campus (1994). 

For a full obituary, click this link.  To read stories about Jon already on this blog, type his name into the "Search This Blog" box on the info menu on the right.