Coral Swank, 92

Published 9:46 am Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Coral Swank, 92, of Austin passed away at St. Olaf Hospital Feb. 27, 2011, and was welcomed home by her husband, Frano, and son, Brian, following a short illness that she handled with strength, grace and dignity.

Coral Swank

She was born on March 14, 1918, in Blooming Prairie to Clara (Easton) and Henry Thompson. She grew up on the family farm near Corning, Minn., and completed the ninth grade.

On June 8, 1940, she married Francis “Frano” Swank in Osage, Iowa. They moved to Austin where Frano managed the Elks club for many years. Frano died in 1986.

Coral was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and the chief coffee maker at gatherings. She was also a long-term member of the Sons of Norway. Coral enjoyed woodcarving and other crafts, but the love of her life was Golf at the Austin Country Club.

Survivors include her granddaughter Jenifer (Swank) Bulskov; brother, Marvin of Blooming Prairie; sisters, Muriel (Watson) of Minneapolis, Pearl (Counts) of Washington D.C.; nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Frano; son Brian (2000), brother Harmon and sister Eleanor (Baldus).

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2, at Grace Lutheran Church with Rev. Jeff Forbes officiating. Friends may call one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery.

The casket bearers will be Marvin Thompson, Dan Thompson, Jon Watson, Eric Baldus and Eugene Thompson.

Arrangements by Mayer Funeral Home.