Iria "Irene" Violet Swajanen

Iria “Irene” Violet Swajanen, age 100, of Eben Junction, died peacefully at her home on Saturday, May 24, 2025 under the loving care of her family and North Woods Home Hospice. She was born on October 11, 1924 in a sauna on the family farm in North Eben to the late Nicholai and Maria (Hautalaakso) Hautamaki. Iria graduated from Eben High School in 1943. Following graduation, she moved to Detroit where she was a “Rosie the Riviter” working in an airplane part manufacturing company during WWII. Iria married Arthur Charles Swajanen on February 16, 1946. Irene and Art worked on their dairy while raising their five children. They milked cows for over thirty years and then transitioned to beef cattle until 2006. Iria was a founding member of the VFW Auxiliary, a member of the Home Extension Group, and a member of the King’s Daughters Guild at church. She was a faithful member of the Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Eben.

Iria is survived by her daughters - Maria (Duane) Lincoln of Munising and Kayleen (Ted) Holmstrom of Hancock; sons - Kenneth (Lisa) Swajanen of Wetmore and Richard (JoEllen) Swajanen of Chatham; son-in-law – Jack Tyner; nineteen grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; sisters – Vivian Riddle and Helen Woimanen; several nieces and nephews, and many special extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nicholai and Maria, husband Art, daughter Janet Tyner, grandsons Little Kenny and Baby Jack, eight brothers and three sisters.

Visitation will be on Thursday May 29, 2025 at the Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Eben Junction from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. Pastor Tom Schierkolk will conduct Irene’s funeral service at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be at Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to North Woods Home Care and Hospice.