THEODORE HANS SWEEN November 3 1925 to July 2 2016
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Theodore Hans Sween, along time resident of San Diego, passed away July 2, 2016. He was 90 years old.
Ted was born Nov. 3, 1925, to Hans and Sylvia (Johnson) Sween in Minneapolis, where he remembers waiting on the back steps for his Dad to come home from work, with a treat from the family restaurant “Hans Diner,” and spent summers on Uncle Ray’s farm in Viroqua. At age 16, he moved with his family to San Diego, where he proudly boasted to have had the fastest car on the city’s streets. He joined the Army and served in the 16th Armored Division under General Patton during World War ll.
He made his career on the sea as a commercial fisherman during the height of San Diego’s tuna industry, first as cook on the Viking, then captain of Mimi Lou, Santa Anita and Venture 3, and finally in the pilot house of several purse seiners.
He married Vernice, moved to Lakeside, Calif., and raised four children. Later in life, he married Pat Fitzgerald. Ted enjoyed hosting family gatherings, gardening, home improvement projects and extended road trips to visit family, and to explore the open road. He is remembered as a fierce competitor who loved to win at cards, golf, tennis or horseshoes; a trusted and admired seaman, a loving father and a doting grandfather.
As a 70-year resident, Ted was flummoxed none of his children remained in San Diego, a place he thought “the best place on Earth to live”, so in 2013, he moved to Florida, near his son, Jon, where he lived the last years of his life.
He is survived by his brother, Tom and Lily Sween of Jacksonville, Fla.; his four children, Vicki of Seattle, Wash., Tod and wife, Karen, of Orofino, Idaho, Teresa and Bob Ziebur of Concord, Calif., and Jon and Warintorn of Merritt Island, Fla.; and grandchildren, Lucas Rafferty, Erica and Whitney Alvarez, Benjamin Ziebur, Hans and Arie Sween, Milan and Rex Sween; and great-grandson, Jayden Flores. Preceding him in death are his father, Hans; stepfather, Ehrling Sodahl; and his mother, Sylvia.
All are welcome to join family and friends in a celebration of Ted’s life, 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1370 Euclid Ave., San Diego, Calif., 92105.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests remembrances be made to: National Veterans Assistance Fund at www.nvsf.org/donate.html or Jack Russell Rescue at https://donate.rescueme.org/jackrussell