CRAIG L. SWANSON

March 5, 2008
SOUTH BEND - Craig Lee Swanson, a former South Bend resident, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2008, in Gainesville, Florida, at the age of 60, with his family by his side.

He was a graduate of Washington High School in South Bend, IN, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, from which he suffered a paralyzing injury at the age of 19. Craig survived over 30 years longer than medically expected, and is a source of strength to all who know of his plight. He will always reside in the memory of those who loved him.

He played a variety of sports (wheelchair basketball, tennis and international billiards), worked as a professional photographer and visual artist, loved animals, helped those in need, and had the ability to find humor in virtually any situation.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert G Swanson in 2006, and father-in-law, Joseph J Tobolski in 2000.

Survivors are his wife of 38 years, Charlene (Tobolski); a daughter, Dawn (Jeff) Bergeron of Orange Park, FL; sons, Brent (Wendy) of Adelphi, MD, and grandson, Andrew Bergeron of Orange Park, FL; mother, Patricia Swanson of South Bend; a sister, Gloria Swanson of South Bend; two brothers, Robert (Carol) of College Park, MD, and Mike (Laura) of South Bend; mother-in-law, Jeanette B Tobolski of South Bend; five sisters-in-law, Kathy (Patrick) Sousley of Granger, Ann (Tom) DeBaets, Cheryl (Jim) Nowicki of South Bend and Becky (Chris) Root of El Dorado Hills, CA; one brother-in-law, Mark (Sue) Tobolski of Granger; uncles, Dan (Rita) of Jacksonville, FL, Jerry of Traverse City, MI, and Steve (Stella) Latowski of South Bend; aunts, Shirley Slabaugh of South Bend, Lois (Pat) Hayes and Audrey (Jim) Jack of Dallas, TX, Susie Cleaver of East Patterson, NJ, Henrietta Marosz of South Bend, Delores Bock and Delphine Ferguson of Mishawaka, Evelyn (John) Kibler of Elkhart, IN, and Kentwood, MI; nephews and nieces, Michael (Beth) and Craig Swanson, Annie (Todd) Wisniewski of South Bend (Mike), Steve Kaszas of Chicago, IL, Ron (Sara) Kaszas of Lakeville, IN, and Tommy and Gary Kaszas of Plymouth, IN (Gloria), Ryan (Aubrey) Sousley of South Bend, Jenna (Mark) Criniti of Granger (Kathy), Jamie (Jeff) Hemmerlein of Granger and AJ Nowicki of South Bend (Cheryl), Jason (Sarah) Kenney or Sacramento, CA, Scott Kenney, Heather Kenney and Mia Root of El Dorado Hills, CA (Becky), Allyson and Sydney Tobolski of Granger (Mark).

Please join the family for a celebration of Craig's life with a memorial gathering on April 26th, 2007, from 3 to 6 p.m. in First Brethren Church in the social hall at 4909 Ironwood Drive, South Bend, IN.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Apr. 20, 2008.

05/23/2023 EJS

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