William K. Swanson, Jr., age 70, of Kelso Drive, sadly passed away on Monday, May 13, 2013 at Elmwood Gardens.

He was born in Erie, December 19, 1942, a son of the late William K. Swanson, Sr. and Doris Edmonds Swanson.

Bill graduated from Academy High School, class of 1960 and attended Behrend University for two years studying engineering. He worked at General Electric for 33 years in the welding/test department and was a Union member. He had a passion for real estate and owned Swanson's Resort Cottages, which is part of the family real estate business. Bill was a member of the Erie Maennerchor & Nuova Aurora Clubs and had a great interest in his 1963 Avanti Studebaker.

He is survived by two sons, William K. Swanson, III of Erie; Randy Swanson of Raleigh, N.C.; a daughter, Heidi Bemiss and her husband, Roy of North East; his former wife, Dolores Kibler of Erie; a sister, Bonnie Devarenne and a brother, Richard J. Swanson of Erie and five grandchildren, Shauna Niedzielski, Tessa and Brayden Bemiss and William Swanson, IV, and Spencer Swanson. He is also survived by a loving friend of the family, Betsy Achille. The family would like to thank Bill's classmates, co-workers and friends from GE, for the visits and support given to him.

Friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 602 West 10th Street, on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. followed by a funeral service there at 1:30 p.m. Private burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of ones choice. Send condolences at www.Burtonfuneralhome.com.

Published in the Erie Times-News on May 16, 2013