‘Nanny’ Rosemary Helen Swanson, 84, of M-35, Palmer, passed away on Friday, September 7, 2018 in the ICU at UP Health System Marquette with her loving family by her side.

Nanny was born in Ishpeming on August 18, 1934 to the late Norman (Doyle) and Loretta (Nault) Brown. Rosemary attended catholic school in Ishpeming. She worked at Bell Memorial Hospital, the H.W. Gossard and lastly at the Palmer Nursing Home as a nurse’s aide.

Rosemary married Roland Swanson in 1953 and were married 65 years. Nanny loved the Packers, the slots at the casino, bingo, crocheting (making sweaters and afghans for her grandchildren), evening coffee with her sister Judy and husband Ken Martin, and Friday’s at McDonald’s in Walmart with her dear friends Rita Laitinen and Joyce Swanson.

Above all, Nanny loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren, they were the light of her life. When they came to visit Nanny would stop whatever she was doing and give them her undivided attention. Nanny would sit at the dining room table and play with playdoh, play Candyland, build puzzles, read to them or play whatever they wanted. She always kept snacks for their visits including ice cream cups, chockie (chocolate milk), mac and cheese and lunchables. Her great-grandchildren loved sitting next to her on her walker, playing or watching cartoons.

Nanny had a heart of gold and was loved by many. She made the best skinny pancakes, stew and dumplings, meat stuffing, porkchops and fudge in the world. She was always there for her family to listen to their troubles with an open mind and heart and would help in any way she could. In all the year’s she suffered with her ailing health, she never complained about it. In the end, she was still thinking about others, saying; “don’t cry for me, it’s OK.”

Rosemary is survived by her husband, Roland; children: Valerie (Steven) Hammond and Kurt Swanson; sisters: Judith (Kenneth) Martin and Marilyn Emanuelson; grandchildren: Laine (Richard) Weidner, Jacqueline Swanson, David (Bridget) Swanson, Travis (Kymber) Swanson, Kyle Slabinski and Taylor (Leland) Nellist; great-grandchildren: Haley, Hunter, Jayden, Mason, Joseph, Jaycee, Adelynn, Clark, Elliot and Ruby; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, William Brown; a sister, Donna Hodge; son, Scott Swanson; and a grandson, Ryan Knueppel who gave her the name ‘Nanny’ as he was her first grandchild.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm on Friday, September 14th at the Koskey Funeral Home. A luncheon will be held following services at the Cascade Bar in Palmer.

Rosemary’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Scott Mills of the Richmond Township EMS, UP Health System Bell EMS and acute care staff, and the ICU staff at UP Health System Marquette, especially Dr. Davies, Samantha Sundling and Lindsay Heino who helped our family through this difficult time.

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