John Ross Swanes' Obituary
John Ross Swanes was born on July 20, 1951 in Tacoma, WA. He passed away peacefully in his Gig Harbor home on November 4, 2020; the home he and his family enjoyed for 40 years. In 2015 John was diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer. He made the courageous decision to do all he could do to extend his life, but refused to let his cancer diagnosis define him. He kept his clever sense of humor and mischievous twinkle in his eye throughout his journey.
He is survived by his wife, Pam. John and Pam spent 46 wonderful years building their lives together celebrating their successes, mourning their losses, and challenging each other to be the best person possible. Their undying love for one another is evident to all who know them. Put simply, they adored one another. Also surviving John are his children who made him so proud: Ross Swanes (Clare), Carl Swanes (Maya), and Emily Godwin (Ryen); and grandchildren who called him Bepa: Jackson, Natalie, Lucy, Elsa, Vivienne and Annika. He was in his element and happiest when he was surrounded by his family. John is also survived by his sisters Susan Sinclair, (Tim), Nancy Jones, mother-in-law, Natalie Jenkins and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Swanes and mother, Vivienne Swanes, and father-in-law, Robert Jenkins.
John was the 4th generation of the Swanes family to own and operate Northern Fish Products in Tacoma. As a young man, he felt privileged to have the opportunity to work with both his father and grandfather, Oswald. He loved and was proud to be “a fish guy”. Like all of the Swanes men before him, he improved the company and acquired other companies to make Northern Fish stronger. These acquisitions included South Bend Packers and Bell Buoy Crab Company which now operate as South Bend Products.
John grew up in the North End of Tacoma. He graduated from Wilson High School in 1969 where he was an All City guard for the Wilson Rams football team. In 1974, he graduated from the UW with a degree in Business Administration. He joked he was half Cougar and half Husky, having spent two years at each university. While at WSU, he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. But make no mistake, at the Apple Cup, he was a Husky through and through.
John loved so many things: family, friends, music, teasing and being teased, his Norwegian heritage, skiing, hiking, boating, golfing, fishing, coaching his kids and their friends in sports and in life, playing sports and watching sports, reading, building and racing a cocktail class hydroplane boat, and puttering in his garage. Doing any of these things with his grandchildren made his heart sing.
He was the perfect gentleman, always willing to listen, to help someone and make them feel comfortable. He was funny, humble and wise. It was a gift to be in his company. His pitch perfect sense of humor could make a happy occasion happier and a sad occasion tolerable.
The family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to the employees of Northern Fish Products and South Bend Products for their support as well as the UCSF Neuro Oncology Department (Drs. Burger, Bush and Chang), Dr. Marc Chamberlain, the Multicare Regional Cancer Center (Dr. Keech), the Gig Harbor Fire Department, and Multicare Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society and the Gig Harbor Fire Department.
There will be a private family service with the hope of having a Celebration of John’s life in 2021.
Please join us November 11th, 2020 at 12:30pm to celebrate John via live webcast at the link below.
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/40261
A service recording be available to those not able to join us live via the same link.
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