John 'Jack' Stevens Swenson

John  Stevens (Jack) Swenson, 80, of Flemington, New Jersey, passed away Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 suddenly but peacefully at Saint Patrick Hospital, in Missoula, MT in the company of friends and family. John was born in Andover, Massachusetts on February 16th, 1929, the son of the late Arthur Sigurd and Helen Julia (Donovan) Swenson; the children of Swedish and Irish immigrants, respectively. John was raised in Rutherford, NJ, across the Hudson River from New York City and attended Rutherford High School, Monson Academy Preparatory School, in Monson, Massachusetts and Philadelphia Textile Institute, in Philadelphia, PA studying textile manufacturing, his father and grandfather’s profession. John was a stand out in basketball and baseball. At the age of 12 John began working at his father’s textile firm Mutual Textile Adjustment Bureau in New York City and subsequently Pacific Mills in New York City and Stevens Mills in Peacedale Rhode Island.  John then discovered his calling and founded Swenson Realty, a farm and land sales agency, serving New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; personally selling more than 50,000 acres of land throughout his career, including many dairy farms and corporate hunting retreats. This career allowed him to hunt, hike, fly, and fish while earning a living. John was an avid fly fisherman, and upland game and deer hunter.  He bred and trained the Dual Champion Brittany Spaniel named Faircrest Polyjet, winning best in field and show, as featured in the book The Brittany in America; along with raising many other champions.  John loved flying, especially with his wife and family, and was a licensed pilot for more than 50 years; holding private, commercial, instrument, and float plane ratings, amassing more than 4,000 flying hours.  Most of those hours were flown in one of his many planes, which he maintained meticulously. Most of all Jack was a loyal family man, enjoying nothing more than telling stories with friends and family.  He met the love of his life, Constance Irey-Swenson originally of Monmouth, Illinois-whom he was married to and inseparable from for 52 years. Together they had five children they adored: Laura Swenson-Ackerman (Bruce) of Stanhope, NJ; Chris Swenson-Balena of Flemington, NJ; John Swenson (Teri) of Long Valley, NJ; Susan Swenson-Amrhein (Joe) of New York City; and  Thomas Swenson of Missoula, MT.  John and Constance raised their children in Washington, New Jersey and spent long summers on Rangeley Lake in Rangeley, Maine, which John absolutely loved.  John was a dedicated and devoted father and always made his family his priority. In his later years, John spent much of his time in Missoula, Rollins, Stevensville, and West Fork, MT; fly fishing the Bitterroot River, spending time on Flathead Lake, flying with his son Tom, collecting cameras, and enjoying story and joke telling. John was excited to hear of his first great grandson Joshua Bryant Cleveland’s birth last week.  John had four grandchildren: Janine Ackerman; Ian Ackerman; Daniela Balena-Cleveland (Brandon); and Giovanna Balena.   Services will be held in Hampton, NJ 10/4/09. Family will receive Relatives & Friends Sunday 10-11 AM    at Musconetcong Valley Presbyterian Church Valley Rd. Hampton, NJ   Religious Service Musconetcong Valley Presbyterian Church 11 AM.  Interment at Musconetcong Valley Cemetery Hampton, NJ.