VIROQUA, Wis. – A visitation and memorial service will be held today, in the place where Viroqua baseball coaching legend Peder “Pete” Swanson (known to most as Swans) spent a good part of his life, the Viroqua Park Bowl. (details on how to watch a livestream of the service in the obituary below)
Swans’ reputation carried beyond baseball circles, not just because of the impressive number of wins he racked up over the years, but because of how he approached coaching, and how he taught his players to approach the game, and their life.
Local radio personality, sports announcer and friend Ernie Betts, who also coached with Swans said he thinks his secret was his unshakeable upbeat nature.
“He was the same every single day,” said Betts. “It didn’t matter what was happening or whether you were winning or losing, he was always positive, and would greet you with a ‘Hey, Ernie. How ya doing today’. And he was like that every single day. I never saw him be any other way. He just loved being there and to be at the park.”
Betts said that attitude carried over to his players.
“He just let them be who they were,” said Betts. “He didn’t try to tell them how to be. He let them be who they are and they respected him for that. And he didn’t try to come across as knowing everything, and they all respected him for that. They just wanted to play for him.”
Swans is credited with over 1,800 wins over his career. He won five Legion state titles, made 15 title games at state and is part of the state Legion Hall of Fame.
Swans’ number 26 has been on display at nearly every local and regional baseball game over the last week to honor the memory of the Viroqua coaching legend.
Below is Swans’ obituary with complete service details provided by the Roth Family Cremation Center
Peder James Swanson, age 75, died July 16th , 2024, at home, of cardiac arrest.
He was born on October 26th, 1948 to Gehard and Marian Swanson. He married his high school sweetheart and best friend, Joann Finley, on August 29th, 1970 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Seneca.
Pete always loved athletics. He excelled at football, basketball, and baseball at Seneca High School, graduating in 1966. He also played fastpitch softball for many years and was inducted into the Southwest Wisconsin Fastpitch Hall of Fame.
Pete’s true talent was teaching and coaching kids. After graduating from UW La Crosse he found a job where he had student taught, Viroqua Area Schools. He taught 8th grade social studies from 1972 until moving into high school phy ed 10 years later.
He retired from teaching in 2005 but stayed on as the athletic director until age 62. He continued to substitute teach until the present time. He enjoyed interacting with students and colleagues, and teaching us all the history of our school.
Swans coached football, basketball, and baseball at Viroqua Middle and High School for 49 years. He also coached youth baseball and softball through Park and Rec and served as the Park and Rec director for many years. He was the assistant athletic director and head athletic director for a total of 28 years.
Swans started the Viroqua American Legion Baseball program in 1975 and, with Jim Mason, ushered in an era of outstanding Viroqua Baseball. This program brought the community together and became a second family.
The accolades and accomplishments Swans received as a coach are too numerous to name. What was most important to him was the relationships he built with students, athletes, parents, administrators, coaches, officials, and the general public.
Pete also served his country in the National Guard for 20 years and was a Desert Storm veteran. He was a lifetime member of Viroqua American Legion Post #138, serving as Commander and Post #3032 Viroqua VFW, serving as Vice Commander.
Dad will be remembered and honored by his daughters Brenda (Mark) Konrad, Steph (Jeff) Ivey, and Sandy (Ryan) Wagner. Grandpa will continue to be revered by his grandchildren, Finley and Brody Konrad, Mickey “The Mick” Ivey, and Addy, Mila, and Hudson Wagner.
Peder will be greatly missed by Joann, brother David (Donna) Swanson, sisters Barb (Terry) Murphy, and Jane Swanson, and sister-in-law Teri (John) Swanson, siblings-in-law Annie Finley, John Honzel, Dick and Barb Finley, Bridget and Charlie Wyrick, Janet and Barry Roghair, and Mimi and Bill Malone, and many nieces and nephews including players, Ashton Swanson and Brayden and Jack Dahl.
He was preceded in death by grandparents, Fritz and Wilma McCormick, his mother and father, brother John, in-laws Jack and Rose Finley, sisters-in-law Mary Ellen Finley and Rose Honzel, brothers-in-law Jack and Jim Finley and countless friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Viroqua Baseball, American Legion Post #138, and Viroqua VFW Post #3032.
Swans’ visitation will be Wednesday, July 24th at the Park Bowl from 2-5:00 p.m., with his Celebration of Life beginning at 5 p.m.. Please wear athletic apparel supporting your favorite team. Bring lawn chairs and Buggins. This man loved nothing more than to see everyone having a great time at the Bowl.
Due to the large volume of individuals expected to attend and limited parking at the Park Bowl, there will be a shuttle service graciously provided by American Legion Post #138. It will run from 2-4:30 p.m. from the Viroqua High School and resume after the service, 6-7 p.m., returning individuals back to VHS. For those interested in utilizing this service, please enter the HS parking lot from Hwy 56, park in the lot, and proceed to door #25 (near HS gym) to be picked up by the shuttle bus.
Western Wisconsin Video Productions is kindly providing a link to view Pete’s services https://twitch.tv/wwvpllcviroqua
The Roth Family Cremation Center and Funeral Services is assisting the family.
In case of inclement weather, services will be held at the Viroqua High School Gymnasium.
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