Myron Curby Swenson, 77, of Onalaska, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2026 surrounded by family.

Myron was born on April 2, 1949 to Myron and LaVonne (Anderson) Swenson in La Crosse.  Raised in a large family with two brothers and two sisters, his parents instilled in their children a deep and abiding sense of love and commitment to each other.  Throughout their lives the Swenson ‘kids’ often spent time together:  family vacations to Canada, Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, California, Colorado, and a special trip to Sweden where we were blessed to meet several distant cousins.  It was always a given that when one sibling was in any kind of need- large or small- the others would immediately rally to their aid.

Myron was an Eagle Scout, and graduated from UW-La Crosse, where he was the photographer on the school newspaper, “the Raquet”.  From a very young age he was with his father at Viking Aviation.  All three brothers shared their Dad’s love of flying and made it their careers.  Myron worked at Viking Aviation as a pilot, manager, and secretary/ treasurer.  He was also the President of Winona Aviation Services and served on the Board of the Minnesota Aviation Trades Association.

In 1983 he became a Corporate pilot for the Trane Company, and then spent the last years of his career as a pilot with United Airlines, retiring at age 65 (only because it was required by law!). 

For many years he kept a sailboat on Lake Onalaska and delighted in taking friends and family out on the water.  He and a friend had captained sailing excursions in the Virgin Islands for several years, and it was on one of those trips that he met his first wife, Sharon. 

Myron continued his love of family in his two marriages.  After marrying Sharon in 1982 he helped raise her two children, Randy and Deb.  Sharon preceded him in death in 2002. 

Introduced in 2005 to Chris Conant Jensen through his brother Randy and sister-in-law Dawn, Myron and Chris felt an immediate chemistry!  They married later that same year, and have been the perfect complement to each other for over twenty years.  They enjoyed traveling, spending time with family, volunteering with animal chores at Clearwater Farm in Onalaska, and their lakeside cottage on Lake Neshonoc.  This marriage gave him two more step-children- James Jensen and Jessie (Jensen) Baijnauth. 

The Swenson family had expanded in 1988 when Myron’s father married Shirley Solberg (a dear friend of LaVonne) after their respective spouses had died.  This marriage joined two families that had been uniquely connected since the Swensons moved into the Winnebago St. neighborhood when Myron was 8 years old.  Now we had 8 step-siblings!  These family bonds remain strong to this day. 

Myron was a consummate professional and the kindest, most considerate person you would ever meet.  He earned a nickname of “The Professor” from his colleagues at the Trane Company because of his extensive knowledge on a wide breadth of subjects.  He was always willing to share that knowledge- and he did it with kindness and humility.  

A stickler for doing things the right way, and with a keen eye for detail, Myron had a passion for woodworking.  He maintained an amazing shop in his basement.   Family and friends have been blessed over the years to be recipients of some of his custom-made furniture pieces.  Even as his health declined, his favorite place to be was in his shop.  Not surprisingly, it is organized with the precision of an operating room!  Often his brothers Randy and Eric could be found working with him on these custom pieces.  

Myron and his brothers were like the Three Musketeers or “three peas in a pod”!  They were the very best of friends, and often we could find them as a cluster of dots on “Find Friends”- or they’d be connected via phone to consult with each other on any and all decisions; whether big life decisions or deciding which screw was the best choice for whatever project they were working on… 

Myron was preceded in death by his parents Myron and LaVonne (Anderson) Swenson, step-mother Shirley (Solberg) Swenson, wife Sharon Swenson, step-son Randy Purtell, and step-brother Jim Solberg.  

He is survived by his wife Christine Conant Swenson, step-children Jessie (Rock) Baijnauth, James (Kristine)Jensen, and Deb Sheldon, brothers Randy (Dawn) and Eric (Joan), sisters Jeanne (Steve)Wilke and Bonnie (Dave) Folkerts, step-siblings Steve (Diane) Solberg, Tom (Vicki) Solberg, Dan Solberg, Mike Solberg, Mary (Patrick) Solberg, Linda (Dave) Losen, and Nancy Solberg.  In addition, he is survived by step-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and their families.  He will be deeply missed by all of them and by many, many close friends.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held on July 19, 2026 beginning at 1:00 pm at the Fox Hollow Event Center in La Crosse.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Myron’s honor to support the Gundersen Cardiac Fund of the Gundersen Foundation or the Animal Program at Clearwater Farm.

Contributions for the Cardiac fund can be made online (gmf@gundersenhealth.org) or mailed to: 1900 South Avenue. La Crosse, WI. 54601

Contributions for the Animal Program can be made online at clearwaterfarm.org or mailed to: 760 Green Coulee Road. Onalaska, WI. 54650