John Swenson Obituary
John Swenson, of Milwaukee, passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 57. Left heartbroken are his wife, Cherie (nee Paust); daughter, Maggie, of Milwaukee; and son, JP, of Chicago. He is also survived by his father, Galen (Betty) of Port Washington; his brothers, Andy (Patty) of Wauwatosa; and Peter (Jennifer) of Shorewood; and his sister-in-law Kris (Dennis) Braunreiter of San Diego, California. He is also survived by his nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. John was preceded in death by his mother, Charlotte (nee Tegtmeyer).
John was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Whitefish Bay where he excelled in sports, especially soccer. After graduating from Whitefish Bay High School, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned a degree in political science, economics and international relations. He was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity.
For many years, John worked alongside his dad and brother, Andy, at Char's Hallmark, a local chain of Hallmark Gold Crown stores that grew to ten locations. He also worked at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church and Bunzel's Meat Market before earning his certification from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a Substance Abuse Counselor. At the time of his passing, he was a counselor with Waukesha Comprehensive Treatment Center, helping people who are struggling with addiction.
John loved the outdoors, traveling, and discovering new flavors. Most of all, he loved his family. In recent years, they traveled to Ireland, Puerto Rico, London, Paris, the rocky shores of Maine, the sandy beaches of San Diego, and the mountains and rivers of Montana. The best times, though, were those spent close to home enjoying the everyday moments of life.
He was an incredible husband and a great dad with a gift for cooking and a fondness for vacuuming. When Maggie and JP were young, he coached their soccer teams. He was their biggest fan at every game, race, and regatta. As adults, he embraced their interests, always supported them, and was deeply proud of them.
John will be best remembered for his kindness. When a dear friend told his daughters about John's passing, he said,"There isn't a nicer person out there.". Before his mom passed away, she wrote to him, "You have such strength and a knowledge of right and wrong; this will serve your family.". It has, and will continue to as they carry his legacy.
The family would like to thank the transplant and cancer teams at Froedtert Hospital, most notably Dr. James Esteban for his longtime care and compassion, especially in John's final days. In lieu of flowers, gifts to Camp Manito-wish in John's memory are appreciated — a place so important to him that on his first date with Cherie in 1987, he talked about it for six hours straight. After sending their own kids there and visiting camp herself, she understood why.
Visitation will be held at St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church (1615 N. Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53213) on Tuesday, January 7th from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. Private burial at Forest Home Cemetery.
Visitation Tuesday, January 07, 2025 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM St. Matthews Ev. Lutheran Church, 1615 Wauwatosa Ave. Wauwatosa, WI 53213 Phone: (414) 774-0441.
