Barbara June Swenson

June Swenson passed peacefully on to heaven Friday, October 9, 2015, in San Marcos, Texas. Barbara June Strawn was born in Austin on September 12, 1938, to Joseph Monroe Strawn and Bertie Maude Hartsell Strawn and, was the middle of three girls. She is survived by her daughter, Laurie Pickerill, son-in-law, Mike, and grandchildren Luke and Zoe; and by her son, Daryl Swenson, daughter-in-law, Stephanie, and grandchildren Antonia, Isaac, and Elena. June is also survived by her sisters and brothers-in-law, Jodie and Hill Smith and Fran and Charlie Dumas. She is further survived by beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and countless other family and friends.

Called “June” by everyone, she grew up in Kyle, Texas and attended school there. After graduating as valedictorian of Kyle High School, June attended Southwest Texas State Teacher’s College where she was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Chi national honor societies. She received her Bachelor of Science and Texas Teacher’s Certification in 1959, and taught 5th grade at Ridgetop Elementary School in Austin, Texas. In 1961, June married Don Swenson and with him had two children, Laurie born in 1962, and Daryl born in 1966. While faithfully involved in everything her children did, she began work as the Director of the Child Development Center at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, establishing a kindergarten and preschool program and continuing her work there for over 10 years. Afterwards, June worked for the State of Texas for several years, as well as volunteering her time to multiple organizations. In 1994, June divorced Don Swenson before returning to school for her graduate studies and received her Master’s in Education in Counseling and Guidance in 1997. She received her License in Professional Counseling in 2000, and served in the Family Crisis Center in Bastrop as a youth counselor until she retired in 2007.

June Swenson devoted most of her life to loving, encouraging, and serving children. She also had a great love for music, always involved in singing and playing the bells in church choirs and teaching and leading children’s choirs, especially at Gethsemane Lutheran Church. She also sang and toured in the U.S. and abroad with the Sweet Adelines Ambassador Tour Chorus. June also loved the outdoors and to travel, enjoying many trips from the local park to across the globe with family and friends, and always encouraging others to laugh and learn. Her lifelong devotion to family, church, and children had brought great joy to many lives and her life on this earth will be missed.

Her family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Sodalis Memory Care of San Marcos and Heart to Heart Hospice for their loving and compassionate care of June in her final months. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations or gifts be directed to Alzheimer’s Association or Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center.

A Memorial Service will be held, Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home.