Josephine Swanson Obituary

Josephine (Fulkerson) Swanson passed away Sunday June 1, 2025. She was born November 22, 1938 at the home of her parents, Coy & Ruth Bernice (Reynolds) Fulkerson in the Oak Community. She married Edward Leroy Swanson, Jr. on June 29, 1957 and was married 60 years before his death on January 25, 2018. From this union, three children were born. Ronald (Sherrie) Swanson, Mona (Rodney) Brown, and David Swanson who died in infancy. Also, one niece and two nephews whom they raised from a young age and considered as their own children. Angela (Donnie) Stacey, Shawn (Jennifer) Murphy, and Christopher (Trish) Murphy. Sixteen grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren were produced from the five children with 3 great granddaughters on the way. Josephine retired from a life of secretarial work in 2012 and was very active and held several positions at her church, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elizabethtown. She was also involved with Red Hat Ladies and Home Extension. She was a cancer survivor. MOM and GRANDMA were the titles she loved the most. She enjoyed spoiling her grandkids at Christmas and taking them on many Kentucky Lake camping trips and to Holiday World. A few got to share vacations to Florida and out west. She enjoyed hosting family gatherings for all occasions and always welcomed visitors. Grandkids and great grandchildren are Caleb (Tens) Swanson & Josie; Leah (Jon) Young & Peyton, Braxton & Oakley; Lana (BJ) Willard & Octavia with Wrenley on the way; Josh, (Megan) Harrison & Riley, Tessa, Aubri, Aadyn & Elias; Holly Harrison & Meyer Clayton; Matthew Brown; Misty Brown; Jacob Brown; Amy Stacey; Teri (Michael) Charleton & Connor, Hadley & Haisley; Derek (Jillian) Stacey & Blakely & Adeline with Sophie on the way; Ethan Murphy; Haleigh Murphy & finace Mason Cook; Madison (Logan) Forthman with Leighton on the way; Tucker Murphy; and Braxton Murphy. Survivors of Josephine are sisters: Aletta Barger, Bonita (Dallas) Davis, Karen (Larry) Hardin and brother Terry (Kathy) Fulkerson, a host of nieces and nephews and numerous special friends. She was preceeded in death by her parents, husband,' son David, one brother and spouse Murray (Joyce) Fulkerson, and two sisters and spouses Evelyn (Vernon) Hogg and Barbara (Tucker) Murphy.
Funeral mass will be 11:00 AM Wednesday June 4, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elizabethtown, IL with Fr. Thomas Barrett and Deacon Bob Murphy officiating with burial to follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the J. M. Weirauch Funeral Home in Harrisburg. For those who wish memorials may be made to the St. Ann Society with envelopes available at the funeral home.
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