Walter "Butch" Herbert Swanson

Walter H. “Butch” Swanson, 88, passed away peacefully of natural causes in his home in Boynton Beach, Florida, on March 1, 2026. He is now reunited with his beloved life partner, Jean J. (Olivieri) Venuti, who passed away in 2017.

A Life of Hard Work and Heart; Born in 1938 and raised in Burlington, Massachusetts, Butch was the son of the late Ernest G. and Mildred A. (Henrikson) Swanson. He was a man of immense practical skill, spending a long and respected career as a mechanic for Mass-Vac, Inc. in Billerica, MA. Butch was known for his ability to build or fix anything; if it had a motor or a moving part, he was the man to call.

In 1988, Butch met his longtime partner, Jean, and they spent 29 years building a life and a blended family together. In 2007, they traded the Massachusetts winters for the sunshine of Florida. Prior to his life with Jean, Butch was married to the late Joyce L. (Jenkins) Swanson, the mother of his children.

Passion and Pastimes; Butch was a New Englander through and through, remaining a die-hard Red Sox and Patriots fan long after moving south. When he wasn’t cheering for his teams, he could be found on the golf course, admiring classic cars, immersed in a novel, or reading about American history. Above all, he cherished the companionship of his loyal dog, Sachi.

Family and Legacy; Butch was predeceased by his three siblings: Janet, Richard, and Ernest “Sonny” Swanson; his twin sons, Daniel Swanson and David Swanson; and his granddaughter, Samantha.

Butch’s greatest joy and daily light came from the family he cherished as his own. He is survived by those who were closest to his heart: Suzanne Venuti Cohen and her husband Ron Cohen of Florida, and their daughters Sophia V.C. Dawson, who he cherished as his "best buddy" and "sweetheart", and Jaycie Cohen. He also leaves behind Donna Venuti of Florida, and Robert Venuti and wife Sandy of Massachusetts, and their children Alex Venuti and Matthew Venuti, who were his devoted children and grandchildren in every sense of the word.

He is also survived by his children Kathy Lison and husband Mark, Allan Swanson and wife Lori, his daughter-in-law Melissa Swanson (widow of Daniel), and sister-in-law Carol Swanson (widow of Richard). His legacy continues through his grandchildren Shane, Lorraine, Derek, Mitchell, Jesse, Thomas, and Matthew, and his great-grandchildren, AJ and Daniel.

Butch leaves behind many friends in his Florida community who will miss his neighborly spirit and his wealth of knowledge.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League at peggyadams.org.

Services will be held privately.