Herbert E. Swanbeck, 92, of 509 E. Florence St., Ironwood, Mich., died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, at Ashland Health and Rehabilitation Center in Ashland, surrounded by his loving family.      He was born July 30, 1917, in Ironwood, son of the late Edward and Mary (Erickson) Swanbeck, and attended Roosevelt Grade School in Ironwood Township.      Herb entered the U.S. Army on May 12, 1942, proudly serving his country during World War Two in North Africa and the European Theater of Operations. He was captured near Naples, Italy by Axis Forces in May 1944. After capture, Herb and his fellow captives marched over two months through Italy, living on potato peelings, carrot scraps and water before being jammed into railroad cars and transported over the mountains to Stalag 7A in Pirach, Germany. He spent the remainder of the War as a POW and was liberated in May 1945. He received a Bronze Service Star and Good Conduct Medal, and two special medals which he cherished deeply, the Purple Heart  and the Prisoner of War Medal.      Following his honorable discharge on Nov. 7, 1945, Herb returned to Ironwood and attended Gogebic Community College, where he learned the furnace installation and repair trade. He was employed in furnace work with Sears-Roebuck and Co. in Ironwood for many years, and retired as a scoop tram operator at White Pine Copper Co. in 1980.      Herb was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Ironwood, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a life member of Ironwood American Legion Post 5, where he served on the Honor Guard. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and playing "Greedy", a dice game. An all-around handyman, Herb was a good neighbor to all, always willing to lend a hand. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend to many, he will be dearly missed.      On Nov. 24, 1945, he was united in marriage to the former Elaine Leinonen at Sharon Lutheran Church in Bessemer, Mich. by the late Rev. E.W. Kastman. She survives.      Also surviving are two daughters, Cherie DeRizzo, Ironwood Township, and Colleen (Cookie) Laguna, Montreal; five grandchildren, Tracy (Chris) Traczyk, Ironwood Township, Danny DeRizzo, Tomahawk, Brad Schulze and Gary Laguna, both of Hurley, and Sheri (Brian) Harten, Anchorage, Alaska; three great-grandchildren, Danielle and Kali Traczyk and Mason Schulze; a sister, Venita Bahun, Ironwood; a brother-in-law, Vernon (Mary) Leinonen, Northport, Fla; a sister-in-law, Carol (Roland) Lindberg, Ironwood Township; and numerous nieces and nephews.      Besides his parents, Herb was preceded in death by his son, Gary, on Aug. 18, 2009; son-in-law, Dan DeRizzo, in 1996; brother, Barney; sister, Florence Nelson; and two half-sisters, Elsie Carlborn and Signe Anderson.      Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 11 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church, 100 W. Midland Ave., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Francis Strong officiating.      Committal will take place at the church, where full military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard.      Luncheon will immediately follow in the church fellowship hall.      Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood.      Relatives and friends may call at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday.      Pallbearers will be members of  Ironwood American Legion Post 5, to include Chuck Suzik, John Rundquist, Denny and Tom Kellett, Jim King and Tom Gerovac.      To view Herb's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc.,