James E. Swanson's Obituary
Jim Swanson was born in Jamestown North Dakota on September 13, 1921. He lived there until 1935 when his family moved to Puyallup WA. In their family move, he joined his Dad and Mom, sister, brother and his cousin who the family raised after her Mom and Dad passed. They came west in an old Studebaker pulling a four wheeled rubber tired farm wagon loaded with all of their belongings. Before they left for Washington, they gave the farm and livestock to friends because you could not sell such items during this period of the dust bowl.
Jim attended Puyallup High School and after graduating soon married his love Doris. With his country calling, Jim joined the Navy and served during WWII on a Landing Craft. Toward the end of the war, Jim was assigned to a ship in Guam in preparation for actions in a key Japanese harbor. Fortunately the war ended and Jim was spared involvement of a major battle in defense of our country.
Following the war, Jim returned home and along with Doris started his loving family. In 1944 Jim and Doris welcomed their son Randy and then in 1947 along came Linda. Jim then began to build his career starting as a firemen for the railroad leading up to engineer. He retired after 25 years with the railroad as an engineer. Simultaneously, he commercial fished, provided log patrol and operated a herring business for 15 years. During the period of the mid-seventies, he purchased a 100 acre fruit orchard in Royal City WA. He then moved to Entiat WA in following his farming interest and then to Tumwater where he started a sod farm business. In the mid-eighties, he returned to his previously purchased fruit orchard in Wenatchee WA and remained there up to the time Doris passed in 1989. Following her passing, he moved to Gig Harbor WA and began a career in real estate. He was a man of many talents and built a total of five homes.
An interesting note, Jim played ten different musical instruments. As a favorite, he really liked playing the trombone. However, later in life he received a really nice organ. Through practice he developed his playing skills as an excellent player. His final instrument was an electronic keyboard that he so much enjoyed playing.
Jim enjoyed a very happy marriage, hard work and business successes. He often said he had his days in the sun and had lived in the best time period possible.
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