Obituary of James Swan Rev. James R. Swan, 78, formerly of 303 West Fifth St. Jamestown, passed away at 6:34 p.m. Thursday, September 6, 2018, in UPMC Chautauqua. He was born November 22, 1939 in Jamestown, NY, a son of the late Paul J. and Ethel I. Thorsell Swan.
Jim was a 1957 graduate of Jamestown High School, a 1961 graduate of Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL and a 1965 graduate of North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. He was ordained a pastor in 1966, with the Evangelical Covenant Church. Jim’s ministerial career took him to several places over the years.
From 1965-1966 he served as associate pastor of the Salem Square Covenant Church, Wooster, MA, from 1966 to 1969 he served as pastor of the First Covenant Church in Escanaba, MI. and was pastor of the Covenant Church in Crookston, MN in 1970. From 1976 to 1986 he served as office manager for the Bible Radio Network in Pasadena, CA.
After returning to Jamestown, he was the Chaplain at the Chautauqua County Jail from 1993 to 1998 at which time he also served the Maple Springs Union Church. Jim was a wonderful and caring caregiver to his parents during their final years. He was a long time member of the Zion Covenant Church.
He loved singing and was a member of several local singing groups including, Zion Covenant Church Choir, Jamestown Harmony Express Barbershop Chorus and sang in the Living Christmas Tree at First Covenant Church. He also served as a board member and past Treasurer for the Union Gospel Mission for several years. He will be remembered as a very quiet, unassuming and kind man who was also a very big sports fan.
Surviving are his sister; Martha S. (Leland) Bookhout of Staatsburg, NY, his nephew; Dr. Thomas (Jeanne) Bookhout of Peoria, AZ, his niece; Jodi (Steven) Rathjen of Clinton Corners, NY, his aunt and uncle; Phillip and Lorraine Thorsell of Jamestown, as well as several cousins also survive. He was preceded in death by his father Paul who died October 6, 1999 and his mother Ethel who died June 18, 2004. The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Lind Funeral Home.
The Rev. Rick Miller, pastor of the Zion Covenant Church will officiate. Burial will be in the Lake View Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, two hours prior to the service in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Zion Covenant Church, 520 Fairmount Ave. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or log on to www.
samaritanspurse.org.
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