Marvin "Butch" Swanson

Marvin Gayle “Butch” Swanson, 70, formerly of Cairo, passed away on Thursday, December 31, 2020 at Brookfield Park Care Home in St. Paul.



Funeral service will be 10:30 AM on Friday, January 8, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church in Cairo. The Rev. Catherine Love will officiate. Burial will follow in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Those attending the service, please dress casual as Butch was not about a suit and tie. Masks and social distancing will be required. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 PM Thursday at the Church. Apfel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Central Nebraska Humane Society, the Alzheimer’s Association or Cairo Fire Department.



Marvin was born March 30, 1950, at Palmer, NE to Mike and LeVera (Place) Swanson. He attended grade school at District 31 School in Cairo. He was the first class to graduate from Centura High School in 1968. Butch was a hard worker who helped many farmers in the Cairo area during his off hours with his employment at Eaton Manufacturing Corporation in Kearney which he held for 35 years with 30 years of perfect attendance.



Butch was taught at an early age how to pitch horseshoes by his mother, who could throw ringers like nobody’s business. He brought his love of horseshoes to his children and many friends who would gather at the Hadenfeldt Riverfront property every summer. He loved camping with his family and friends and often you could find him at the Fort Kearney Campground on a weekend since his employment with Eaton’s was often seven days a week. This way he could still enjoy the outdoors with family after a long day at work. Butch was an avid bowler for decades and when the Wii gaming system came out, he showed us all up with seven perfect games. His love of motorcycles hit him strong when he turned 50 and he purchased his first Harley Davidson. He loved to ride and took his first and last trip to Sturgis shortly thereafter. His favorite pastime however was just having a cold beer with his friends and family. Boy the stories he could tell. You would always leave your time with him with a smile and aching tummy from laughing so hard. Butch was known for his kind heart and selfless ways. He was always so giving and would do anything for his friends and family.



On August 16, 1986, Butch was set up on a blind date with Loren Culler and the two have never separated. Lorene brought to this relationship her three children, Brock (9), Jarvis (6) and Jory (3). Jarvis’ birthday was the day of their first date, and for years he never forgave Lorene for leaving him on his birthday. If you ask him about that day today, he will tell you, “It was the best birthday gift he could have been given,” Butch loved the kids so much, and they him, and was so excited when he became “Grandpa”. In fact, two of his grandkids have his name in theirs.



Butch is survived by Lorene Culler, Brock (Jess) Culler of Grand Island, Jarvis (May) Culler of Kearney and Jory (Matthew) Wheeler of Omaha; grandchildren, Morgan, MaKenna, Mikah, Madden, Kian Marvin, Aria, Griffin, Barrett Gayle and Palmer; sister, Bev (Al) Hilkemeier of Grand Island; brother, John (Terri) Swanson of Grand Island brother-in-law, Bill Walters of Omaha; several nieces and nephews, and a multitude of close friends.



He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Sue Walters; and Lorene’s parents, Lawrence and Phyllis Traudt.