Edward George Swanson

Whether in the Midwest, Alaska, the Arizona desert, or anywhere else in the world Ed loved the outdoors and the all canoeing, camping, hiking, sailing, cross-country skiing, fishing, rafting, hunting, building, backpacking, kayaking, alpine skiing, traveling, snorkeling, snow-machining, exploring, and living he could do there.

Edward grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He was interested in photography and any pursuit of outdoor adventure he could find. Active in the Boy Scouts, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Ed became a Sergeant First Class in the Illinois National Guard and remained active with the Guard into the early 1960s.

Ed graduated from the University of Illinois - School of Pharmacy, Class of 1952. On a Youth Hostel ski trip to Canada he met, and skied with, Barbara Hamilton. They took trips together all the next year. In June of 1956 they were married and took a seven-month honeymoon travelling through Europe and the Middle East. They settled in Downers Grove, Illinois and started a family of three boys.

In 1967 they moved the three boys to Alaska - “A great place to raise boys”, according to Ed. In Alaska he earned a living practicing Pharmacy while getting outdoors with his family at every opportunity. He and Barbara belonged to the Prospector’s Society and Ed started the Knik Canoers and Kayakers to collect information about rivers in Alaska so he could plan more adventurous trips.

In the early 1980s Ed received a parcel of land near Talkeetna from the State of Alaska through the agriculture lottery process. He cleared the required land, grew potatoes and raspberries, and designed and built himself a double insulated house on top of a hill with a view of Denali.

After retirement, Ed and Barbara moved to Sun City, Arizona where he became active in the wood shop of several Sun City Rec Centers. He became an expert at turning wood on a lathe, creating many beautiful bowls. He was particularly interested in turning flawed wood from tree burls and laminating different woods together before turning them.

In Arizona Ed also indulged an early interest in magic. He attended magic seminars and conventions around the country and joined a group of local magicians performing in the Sun City area.

Edward is survived by his sister Sally, his three sons Eric, Karl and Kirk, and grandchildren Kyle and Karmen.

Ed will be remembered at the quarterly Memorial Service to be held at Royal Oaks in Sun City, AZ on March 5th, 2019.