Hi Gunhild,
 
I'm truly sorry to hear about Jack and offer my condolences. It only seemed like yesterday when we had those memorable camp-outs in Newport and Sequim. Sue and I will always treasure those precious times spent with the two of you.
 
Little by little I'll go through all of my photos and e-mail them to you and Jim.  Here comes the first. A slow process since I'm archaic and still on dial-up I-net. 
Jim,
I went to the hospital this morning only to learn that Jack has passed away. I stopped at their house, only a mile from ours, and spoke with Gunhild briefly. She gave me permission to send you this email to be broadcast to the club.
Jack died last night at around 9:31 PM. Gunhild has family with her and she is doing well. She's a tough woman and this has been coming along for quite a while now. She is working on final arrangements and hopes to have it all figured out in time to be included in the obit.
Tom
To all: Mary Ann and I just went to Sacred Heart (room 727) to bid farewell to our dear friend Jack
Swanson. He is not faring well with his fight for his health, and in all likelyhood shall not see home again.
Please feel free to visit him ( he will probably be sleeping). Do not procrastinate. Please pass this to our friends
who are not on this mailing list. Regards; Dennis
Dear Friends,

We lost Jack last night at about 9:30.  We had been at the hospital most of the day and had left his bedside at 9.    He refused the feeding tube and the ventilator earlier in the day and was only sedated for comfort and pain relief.  He was unconscious for most of the day. 

Before we left for the night I closed my eyes for a few minutes while I held his hand at about 9 and I had this vision of him happy, it just washed over me like a warm wind.  When we arrived at the house it was dark and still when we got out of the car, as we walked toward the house a warm wind blew and it swirled around us, pine needles showered us. We stood still and looked up at the trees enjoying a magical moment with the moonlight through the dancing branches and the wind swirling warm and wild.  Then, just as it started it stopped.  Turlan and I looked at each other and I said, I think the angels might have just come for Opa.  A few minutes later Gunhild called from the hospital.  Indeed, Jack had gone on his way into the night.

Knowing and loving him was one of the greatest honors of my life. I will remember walking with him this summer up at Green Bluff during the Cherry Pickers trot.  We have enjoyed that event as a family for 6 years and before that just Chris and I and usually Jack and Gunhild for 5 years.  I often walked with Jack, this year was especially nice because I knew it might be our last so I savored the moments!

Jacks immune system was destroyed by the chemotherapy meant to save his life.  This was the only treatment available for his CLL Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.  Although he was 73, Jack had run 200 marathons.  He had lived a healthy lifestyle and had the physiological fitness for many more years of good living.  He died too early and the treatments for his cancer harmed his body beyond repair.

One in three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer  in their lifetime, and it is now one in two males.  We desperately need to find better treatments and cures for cancer.                  

Please savor your moments today in memory of Jack. 
If you would like to make a donation to the Livestrong Foundation please contact me.  I do volunteer work for Livestrong and will be sending a photo of Jack and a letter about him to the Foundation shortly.

From My Family to Yours,
My Best,
Melanie Morlan
www.firstibreathe.com
Hi everybody,
 
What can I say?  Jack is a well-loved local running icon.  The word got out to our local Spokesman Review newspaper, and they decided to do a video story on him.  In the past they have done stories on us as a running couple, and they thought it would be inspiring.  Check out the attached link, and you be the judge.
There will also be a story in print on Thursday in the Valley Voice section of the Spokesman Review. 


https://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/video/archive.asp?postID=379
=

Nice picture of Jack on the front page of the Marathon Maniacs
site--smiling with a twinkle in his eye,just like we all remember.

cm

Link:
http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/

Chris Marr

Dear family and friends,
 
The attached document is the "official" record of Jack's life.  It amazes me that a 74 year life so rich and passionate can be condensed into such a small article.  Jack touched all of our lives in so many ways, you would think it takes a book to chronicle it all.  The kids and I spent this afternoon and evening going through 11 shoe boxes, a drawer, two albums and a bag of photos spanning his life.  We will have a slide show and photos posted on foam boards at the memorial service.  What struck me most is Jack's beautiful happy smile appearing in the photos over and over again.  I know I will cherish the memories we made together forever.   He will be missed.
 
Gunhild

The pictures are great! Thanks Jim for all your work!!
Jack will be missed a lot…
r

Hi Gunhild,
Here are links to the photos I have and some that I found on Chris gallery. I'm terribly sorry we lost Jack, it brought back fond memories looking at these photos.
I posted this today on the MM site http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/rip/jackswanson.html and we have his picture on the front page.
Jim: Could you please send me a link when you have added more pictures so I can share it with others. In the meantime I have the current one on the Marathon Maniacs front page. Thank you.
If there is anything we can do please don't hesitate to ask.
tony!
my pictures
North Olympic 2005
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/44728950
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/44728942
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/44728943
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/44728920
Boston 2005
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/42295853
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/42295857
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/42295859
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/42295866
Yakima 2005
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/41651299
Chris pictures
Cap City 2006
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/43464878
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/43464879
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/43464884
CDA 2005
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/44326163
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/44326173
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/44326174
tony!
You Can Do It!
http://www.marathonmaniacs.com

Thanks to everyone who pitched in so generously to get the running shirt quilt made for Jack and Gunhild!

Hi Gunhild,
 
I'm truly sorry to hear about Jack and offer my condolences. It only seemed like yesterday when we had those memorable camp-outs in Newport and Sequim. Sue and I will always treasure those precious times spent with the two of you.
 
Little by little I'll go through all of my photos and e-mail them to you and Jim.  Here comes the first. A slow process since I'm archaic and still on dial-up I-net. 

Letters and Memories of Jack Swanson

Jim,
I went to the hospital this morning only to learn that Jack has passed away. I stopped at their house, only a mile from ours, and spoke with Gunhild briefly. She gave me permission to send you this email to be broadcast to the club.
Jack died last night at around 9:31 PM. Gunhild has family with her and she is doing well. She's a tough woman and this has been coming along for quite a while now. She is working on final arrangements and hopes to have it all figured out in time to be included in the obit.
Tom
To all: Mary Ann and I just went to Sacred Heart (room 727) to bid farewell to our dear friend Jack
Swanson. He is not faring well with his fight for his health, and in all likelyhood shall not see home again.
Please feel free to visit him ( he will probably be sleeping). Do not procrastinate. Please pass this to our friends
who are not on this mailing list. Regards; Dennis
Dear Friends,

We lost Jack last night at about 9:30.  We had been at the hospital most of the day and had left his bedside at 9.    He refused the feeding tube and the ventilator earlier in the day and was only sedated for comfort and pain relief.  He was unconscious for most of the day. 

Before we left for the night I closed my eyes for a few minutes while I held his hand at about 9 and I had this vision of him happy, it just washed over me like a warm wind.  When we arrived at the house it was dark and still when we got out of the car, as we walked toward the house a warm wind blew and it swirled around us, pine needles showered us. We stood still and looked up at the trees enjoying a magical moment with the moonlight through the dancing branches and the wind swirling warm and wild.  Then, just as it started it stopped.  Turlan and I looked at each other and I said, I think the angels might have just come for Opa.  A few minutes later Gunhild called from the hospital.  Indeed, Jack had gone on his way into the night.

Knowing and loving him was one of the greatest honors of my life. I will remember walking with him this summer up at Green Bluff during the Cherry Pickers trot.  We have enjoyed that event as a family for 6 years and before that just Chris and I and usually Jack and Gunhild for 5 years.  I often walked with Jack, this year was especially nice because I knew it might be our last so I savored the moments!

Jacks immune system was destroyed by the chemotherapy meant to save his life.  This was the only treatment available for his CLL Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.  Although he was 73, Jack had run 200 marathons.  He had lived a healthy lifestyle and had the physiological fitness for many more years of good living.  He died too early and the treatments for his cancer harmed his body beyond repair.

One in three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer  in their lifetime, and it is now one in two males.  We desperately need to find better treatments and cures for cancer.                  

Please savor your moments today in memory of Jack. 
If you would like to make a donation to the Livestrong Foundation please contact me.  I do volunteer work for Livestrong and will be sending a photo of Jack and a letter about him to the Foundation shortly.

From My Family to Yours,
My Best,
Melanie Morlan
www.firstibreathe.com
Hi everybody,
 
What can I say?  Jack is a well-loved local running icon.  The word got out to our local Spokesman Review newspaper, and they decided to do a video story on him.  In the past they have done stories on us as a running couple, and they thought it would be inspiring.  Check out the attached link, and you be the judge.
There will also be a story in print on Thursday in the Valley Voice section of the Spokesman Review. 


https://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/video/archive.asp?postID=379
=

Nice picture of Jack on the front page of the Marathon Maniacs
site--smiling with a twinkle in his eye,just like we all remember.

cm

Link:
http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/

Chris Marr

Dear family and friends,
 
The attached document is the "official" record of Jack's life.  It amazes me that a 74 year life so rich and passionate can be condensed into such a small article.  Jack touched all of our lives in so many ways, you would think it takes a book to chronicle it all.  The kids and I spent this afternoon and evening going through 11 shoe boxes, a drawer, two albums and a bag of photos spanning his life.  We will have a slide show and photos posted on foam boards at the memorial service.  What struck me most is Jack's beautiful happy smile appearing in the photos over and over again.  I know I will cherish the memories we made together forever.   He will be missed.
 
Gunhild

The pictures are great! Thanks Jim for all your work!!
Jack will be missed a lot…
r

Hi Gunhild,
Here are links to the photos I have and some that I found on Chris gallery. I'm terribly sorry we lost Jack, it brought back fond memories looking at these photos.
I posted this today on the MM site http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/rip/jackswanson.html and we have his picture on the front page.
Jim: Could you please send me a link when you have added more pictures so I can share it with others. In the meantime I have the current one on the Marathon Maniacs front page. Thank you.
If there is anything we can do please don't hesitate to ask.
tony!
my pictures
North Olympic 2005
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/44728950
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/44728942
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/44728943
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/44728920
Boston 2005
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/42295853
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/42295857
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/42295859
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/42295866
Yakima 2005
http://www.pbase.com/tonymaniac3/image/41651299
Chris pictures
Cap City 2006
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/43464878
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/43464879
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/43464884
CDA 2005
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/44326163
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/44326173
http://www.pbase.com/cjwarren/image/44326174
tony!
You Can Do It!
http://www.marathonmaniacs.com

Thanks to everyone who pitched in so generously to get the running shirt quilt made for Jack and Gunhild!

Attached is an article I wrote years ago, but it is one of my favorite memories of Jack. It is really about the whole relay, but Jack is what made it so exceptional. I have never had so much fun or laughed so hard. Another strong memory I have of Jack is when Gunhild and I ran 30 miles of the WSU ultra for training. He support crewed us the whole way. Then he gave me a blanket, and made me curl up in the back of his van while he drove us home. He also remembered that I loved the spice drops at Western States so he had some for me in one of his cupboards. Ultra training was easy when Jack was there taking care of absolutely everything.
What a great man. Love ya, Jack.
Dori
(Dori's article is on a separate page)