Earl A. Sween

Earl A. Sween, Ol’ Boop, 97 years young, left the harbor aboard the Shearl bound for heaven to join his sweetheart Shirley. He passed away peacefully at home in Naples, FL with his daughter Deborah and dear Martha, Kelly and Ellie, his team of angels, at his side on April 1, 2018, Easter Sunday. He loved life and had a very strong will to live and love all those around him.

Earl was preceded in death by parents August and Fi Sween, his mother Florence Sween, his wife of 70 years Shirley Sween, his brother William “Bill” Sween. Supporting Boop all the way to the finish line were his surviving family members including: his sister Sue Edholm (Ralph) Mesa AZ; brother Ron (Ok) Sween, Duluth MN; daughter Deborah Sween, Naples FL; son Thomas E Sween (Jeanne) Naples FL; grandchildren; Jay (Sunni) Scrivner, Eureka CA; Tasha Marvin, Ojai CA; Andrew (Carolyn) Scrivner, Deephaven MN; Tom H Sween, Orono MN; Drew Baldwin (Ginger), NYC; plus 11 beautiful great grandchildren.

Earl lived the American Dream. He was born in North Minneapolis and grew up as a farm kid on the Heathcote Farm in Deephaven MN raising vegetables for the family restaurant “Hans Lunch” in Minneapolis. Later the family moved to Chanhassen to the Highpath Farm. From there on to Wayzata, where they started the Sween Brother’s Dairy located where the Wayzata Country Club is today. In 1955 Earl started Stewart Sandwiches. Today the business has evolved into the E. A. Sween Company/Deli Express which makes “Great Food for People on the Go!” nationally. He, to his last day, called the 1,200 members of the EAS team his family.

The Minnesota Golden Gopher football program may have lost its most senior and enthusiastic supporter. Earl loved his Gophers, maybe because he had a chance to play for Bernie Bierman during those long forgotten Gopher Golden years. Earl was a devoted member of Rotary, the Masons and Shriners.

Earl (Ol’ Boop) will be deeply missed by his family, his Deli Express family, his fishing buddies and hundreds of friends. This toast which he shared daily will always define Earl Sween: “There is a destiny that makes us brothers & sisters, none goes his way alone, but let’s always remember, it’s the great things you put into the lives of others that will come back into your own.” Earl, will always be remembered for his generosity, positive nature and so appreciative to the very end.

Earl’s “Celebration of Life” & memorial service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. on April 21, 2018 at Wayzata Community Church (952) 473-8877. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Private family Interment will precede the service at Groveland Cemetery, Deephaven MN.

A private memorial will be held in Naples, FL on April 15, 2018 for Earl’s “Celebration of Life”.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Ln, Naples FL. 34012 or The Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr. Tampa, FL 33607