John Otto 'Jack' Swanson MD

Swanson, John Otto (Jack) Born on June 5, 1931 in Kansas City, MO and died December 23, 2017. Jack was raised in Ottumwa, Iowa, and graduated from Ottumwa High School. He studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio, and graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. He earned his M. D. degree as valedictorian from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, served two years in the U. S. Army Medical Corps, followed by residency training in Internal Medicine and Pathology at the V. A. Medical Center and the University of Minnesota. Jack was Pathologist/Director of the Clinical Laboratory at Swedish Hospital/Metropolitan Medical Center, Minneapolis, from 1965 through 1988 and Medical Director and Vice President at Lutheran Brotherhood/Thrivent Financial for Lutherans from 1983-2003. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Pathology (Anatomic and Clinical) and the Board of Insurance Medicine. As a member of the American Academy of Insurance Medicine, Jack taught regularly at their triennial courses, and received their Distinguished Physician Award and President's Award. For over forty years he was a Clinical Assistant Professor in Laboratory Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Playing the pipe organ and church music was his passion. He served as organist at Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina for thirty three years, only retiring in 2016 because of illness. He also produced two CD's of hymns: Bright Gems for His Crown, and Nearer, Still Nearer; was official organist for Augustana Heritage Association; and co-authored their small hymnal, Songs of Two Homelands. While Jack's accomplishments are many, his greatest source of joy was his family. He was adored by his grandchildren and deeply loved by his family. Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Milton Swanson; his parents, Carl and Mildred Swanson; daughter, Julie Swanson Plummer; and son, John Carl Swanson. He is survived by his wife of forty eight years, Joanna Carlson Swanson; daughter, Kristin Swanson Engman (Jon); grandchildren Craig (Sara) Swanson and their son, Jack; Scott Swanson; Kelsey Plummer; Ben (Laura) Plummer and their sons, Cooper, and Otto; AJ - Andrew John (Ashley) Plummer; and Heidi and Elsie Engman; son-in-law Chuck Plummer; sister-in-law Joanne Kendall; cousin Karen Augspurger; the extended Swanson relatives and Carlson families; the Normandale church family; and many friends. Jack suffered a massive stroke in June, 2016 from which he did not recover. Memorials preferred to Normandale Lutheran Church, Pipe Organ Restoration Fund; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), or the donors choice. Service will be at Normandale Lutheran Church, 6100 Normandale Road, Edina, MN on January 6, 2018 at 11:00 am. Visitation will be Friday, January 5 from 4-7:00 pm and one hour prior to the service. Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

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John Otto 'Jack' Swanson MD

December 23, 2017

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