Obituary of Walter Duane Swonger

Walter (Buster) Swonger, passed away the morning of February 26, 2019 at his home in Hancock, WI. Buster was born Jan 14, 1948 in Shell Lake, WI to the late Samuel and Ethel (Bates) Swonger. Buster graduated from Spooner High School in 1966. He formed a band and played music in Canada and played the Holiday Inn Circuit. He went to Nashville in 1978 and recorded his first album Incredible Love. He moved to Alaska for a year and played music, worked as a bus driver and a gas station attendant. Then came back to Lower 48 in Clear Lake WI, where he met and married Sue Johnson Hoople on October 9, 1987. He then formed the Ramblin’ Fever Band and played at various places in WI. In November of 1989, Buster, Sue and her two daughters moved to Hancock, Wi. In 1997 they bought the Ramble Inn Bar and Bowling Alley. Buster is survived by his wife, Sue, sons Bill, Jamie and daughter, Lonnie, stepdaughters, Katina and Tasha. Grandchildren, Great grandchildren many nieces and nephews, cousins and many friends and all the kids on bus number 14. Also Brother Chuck, and sisters Dorothy Blair, Elsie Lawrence and Wilma Foster, Sister-in-Law, Grace Swonger, Brother-in-Law, Chuck(Cindy) Johnson, Sisters-in-Law Wendy Hetzel and Nickii(Les) Baughman. Preceding him in death is sister Ethel(Charlie)Hathaway, sister-in-law Ida Swonger brothers-in-law Gene Lawrence, Al Duboix , Custer Foster and brother Bill Swonger and grandson Jayce and Brother-in-law Jim Hetzel. Buster aka Buster Kale recorded two albums in Nashville. Incredible Love in 1978 and Me and my Big Mouth in 1993. Over the years, Buster was a jack of all trades, working odd jobs to further continue with his singing career. He was an over the road semi driver, had a small engine repair business, had a karaoke dj business, and drove bus for 30 years for Bartram Bus Service. He also was a tram driver at the Wisconsin Veteran’s Home in King and established the Ramblin’ Fever Band with Earl Larsen and Kyle Larsen. He also volunteered playing Santa and music at the veterans home. Through out the years he’s played many benefits and helped a lot of people. He got to know many people between playing music and driving bus. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.