John J. Swanda, Jr., age 71, of Huron, SD, died Monday, August 13, 2012, at his home. His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 17, at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish with burial at St. Martin Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 2-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with family present from 6-8 p.m. and a scripture service at 6:30 p.m.; or Friday morning one hour prior to the service at the church. John James Swanda, Jr., son of John James and Mary Margaret (Shanahan) Swanda, Sr., was born on January 19, 1941, at Burke, SD. He grew up in the Bonesteel / Fairfax, SD, area where he attended Pleasant Valley Grade School and Fairfax Grade School, graduating from Bonesteel High School in 1959. He then attended and graduated from SDSU Brookings in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. John's work career began in Beresford, SD, where he worked for several years as a construction engineer for the Soil Conservation Service. He moved to Sioux Falls in 1966 and worked in the same capacity. He moved to Huron in April 1976 and continued his work as a construction engineer for the Soil Conservation Service for several years until becoming a hydraulic engineer. In 1994 the Soil Conservation Service changed it's name to NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Services). He finished his career in 2006 as an ITS (Information Technology Systems) manager in charge of all of the NRCS offices for the state of South Dakota. While living in Sioux Falls John met Karen Tschetter and they were married on February 15, 1975, in Fairfax. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish; Elks Lodge; NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association); and Knights of Columbus. His many interests included gardening, camping, hiking, traveling, and computers. He cherished all of his family especially the grandchildren. He was also the accordion player in his family's polka / waltz band whose membership included his father and brothers. John is survived by his wife, Karen of Huron; 3 children, Angela (Matt) Hunter of Castlewood, SD, Melissa (Kane) Radel of Sanborn, MN, and Brian Swanda and special friend Shannon Beekman of Huron; his mother, Mary Swanda of Bonesteel; 4 grandchildren, Cala Hunter, Jakeb Hunter, Ella Hunter, and Landan Hunter; 4 brothers, Larry (Carolyn) Swanda of Granger, IA, Marvin (Margaret) Swanda of Eagle, NE, Dan (Karen) Swanda of Yankton, and Ken (Marcy) Swanda of Omaha, NE. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; his father in 1987;and a brother, Gerald Swanda.