Date of death: 5/8/2023
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1982
Jerry Herbert Swanson, 80, of Bear Lake, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 8, 2023, at The Maples Nursing Home, in Frankfort, MI.
Jerry was born on January 3, 1943. He graduated from Bear Lake High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Central Michigan University. Upon graduating, Jerry joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Somalia. He was a world traveler and spent the bulk of his career teaching English as a second language in the Middle East.
An outdoor enthusiast, Jerry loved hiking and gardening. He had an excellent memory and could identify a multitude of trees and flowers. He also loved animals, especially cats.
Jerry is survived by: his sister, Janet (King) Applegate of Dorr; two brothers, Dan (Karen) Swanson of Grand Rapids and John (Nancy) Swanson of Tarpon Springs, Florida; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by: his parents, Edward and Faith Swanson of Bear Lake; and his sister, Joy (Johnny) Wittenbach of Belding.