September 25, 2008 in City

Longtime Bloomie dies of leukemia

Jack Swanson was 74

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John “Jack” Swanson, a running enthusiast and longtime Bloomsday racer who was pushed across the finish line in a wheelchair this year by his wife, died of leukemia on Sept. 19. He was 74.

The retired truck driver had run his 200th marathon last autumn and while he missed the first Bloomsday race, had run each one since.

His story was published this past spring in The Spokesman-Review, a tribute to his perseverance and dedication to family and running.

Swanson was born in Seattle in 1934. He graduated from Deer Park High School in 1952 and joined the Marines in 1953, serving in Japan. He was a Teamster in Local 690 and was a member of several running clubs. In addition to marathons, he ran ultramarathons as well.

Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Gunhild Swanson; his four children; four brothers and sisters; stepchildren and numerous grandchildren. An obituary provided by the family said he enjoyed riding and racing dirt bikes, boating, building model ships and collecting antique bottles.

He had lived a fit lifestyle, and put in 31 years of volunteering at numerous races and track meets.

Along with Gunhild, he trained and raced – even after his hospitalization. They credited each other for their successes. And while running has been a central part of their lives – they met on a 20-mile training run – it’s not the thing that defined their marriage.

“We will have a wonderful relationship and a wonderful life should we never run another step,” Gunhild Swanson told The Spokesman-Review this spring.

A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Decades, 10502 E. Sprague Ave., behind Percy’s at University City Center.

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