Our kind husband, father and loving family patriarch, Vernie Carlyle Swenson, passed away on May 12, 2017, in his 97th year of life surrounded by his family.
Born August 22, 1920 to Alfred Swenson and Jenny Emilie Samuelson in Salt Lake City, Utah, He grew up in the shadow of the Salt Lake Temple in the Eagle Gate Apartments in downtown Salt Lake.
He loved sports, loved the game of tennis and played for West High's tennis team and later captained the University of Utah tennis team where he had the privilege of playing the late, great tennis legend, Poncho Gonzalez in an exhibition match. He was a tennis champion in doubles competition with Rick Warner winning Utah, Washington, Colorado and California state championships. He later worked for Rick Warner Ford for 40 years as Sales Manager and Assistant to the President from where he retired.
He married Shirley Salm on November 14, 1947 in the Salt Lake Temple and they have enjoyed nearly 70 years together.
A talented singer, he joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at age 16 and continued singing with them for 41 years, 31 of those were shared with his wife singing together in the choir as well as for weddings, funerals and many other events. Shirley and Vernie ‚ even their names formed a harmonious duet.
Vernie served two full time missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; one in his youth to the California Mission and later with his wife in the Massachusetts Boston Mission. He also served as a Second Lieutenant in WWII as a B-24 navigator in the Army Air Corps in the China-Burma-India theater where he flew 44 missions over the "Hump," (Himalayas).
He taught his children to play tennis and golf. Due to a debilitating back injury in his days of tennis, he resorted to the less strenuous game of golf and was passionate about the game and played into his 97th year of life.
His life was filled with service to his family, country, community and church. He exhibited gentleness, kindness and love unfeigned and was an example to all as he lived what he taught until the end.
He is survived by his wife, formerly Shirley Salm, their four children, David Vernie (Jill), Randal Walter (Eileen), Sylvia (Eric Bjorklund), Mark Alan (Charlene), 15 grandchildren and 39 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 18th, 2017 at the Brickyard Ward 1111 East Charlton Avenue (2800 So. 1100 E.) at 12:00noon with a viewing beginning at 10:30am.
Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E Dimple Dell Rd (10600 S), Sandy, Utah.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Utah Youth Village - http://youthvillage.org/
