Thomas Keith Swanson

Thomas Keith Swanson

September 8, 1955 – February 4, 2024

Thomas (Tom) Keith Swanson passed away on February 4, 2024 at the age of 68 years old as he was surrounded by family, pets, and a lot of love.

On September 8, 1955, Tom was born in Williston, North Dakota to his mother, Evelyn M. (Rehurek) Swanson, father, Delbert (DK) Swanson and siblings. The family soon moved to Manitou Springs and Black Hills areas in Colorado in 1957 and finally settled in the Swink/Cheraw/La Junta, Colorado area for the remainder of Tom’s childhood.

Growing up, Tom loved to play with his siblings and other friends and family members engaging in many innocent and mischievous activities children tended to get themselves into before video games and cell phones were around. It is also when his love for sports began. The sport he enjoyed playing the most was Basketball but he was also known as a pretty good catcher/second baseman in baseball and running back in football as well.

Tom graduated from La Junta High School in 1973 and then began a career in construction, starting with building steel buildings around Eastern Colorado and the Front Range areas. While working in Burlington, Colorado, he met his soulmate, Jenny Kay Davis, and the rest was history. Tom and Jenny dated for about 5 years and officially tied the knot on July 7, 1979. That year proved to be a busy one for them as they also moved to Montrose, Colorado where they welcomed their first son, Jacob (Jake) Keith Swanson, into the world in December of 1979. Then they welcomed their second son, Dylan Elias Swanson, into the world in December of 1981.

Tom continued to work in other various construction fields including excavation work alongside his father in the Montrose and Telluride area. He had a wicked work ethic and provided a good honest life for his family. In November of 1990 Tom was working in the Gunnison, Colorado area on a rock crusher and a rather large boulder fell off of one of the conveyor belts and struck him on his head/hard hat causing a traumatic brain injury. He was taken to Grand Junction, Colorado by Flight For Life and escaped near death with the help of the amazing doctors and nurses that helped save his life and by being surrounded by love from friends and family that visited him. He eventually went to the Hilltop Rehabilitation Center in Grand Junction to rehab before moving back home to Montrose.

Due to the extent of the head injury, Tom wasn’t able to formally work anymore but didn’t hesitate to help with chores around the house and whatever it took to help raise (and contain) his sons. Even though the injury caused Tom disabilities that restricted what he could do for the remainder of his life, he never once complained or felt sorry for himself and handled it with the utmost strength, class, humility, kindness, and especially humor. These are just a few amazing qualities that Tom stoically brought to the world and even inspired many other people that knew him to try and adopt themselves, especially his sons.

Tom’s love for sports made him an avid Denver Broncos, Denver Nugget, and Colorado Avalanche fan and he enjoyed sharing that same bond with his sons. He also really enjoyed being in the Mountains, especially with a fishing pole in his hands, and taking a drive over the Million Dollar Highway (which he helped paved at one time) to Silverton and Durango, amongst many other places.

Tom was a man of very few words but the words he did have were meaningful, logical, authentic, and more often than not hilarious. He was quick and witty and a master at deploying his humor at the right time because he knew laughter is always the best medicine. He has had such a positive and profound impact on many, many people and hardly had to say a word in doing so. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends but absolutely never forgotten. We love you Dad/Husband/Grandpa/Brother/Uncle/Friend/Hero/Legend!!!

Tom was preceded in death by his mother, Evelyn, father Delbert, brother Lee Swanson, daughter-in-law Celeste Swanson (wife of Jacob), and grandson Waylon Keith Swanson (son of Jacob). He is survived by his wife Jenny, son Jacob, son Dylan, granddaughter Laynie Parnell-Stanger (daughter of Dylan), granddaughter Kylie Parnell (daughter of Dylan), brother Frank Swanson (wife Sue), sister Gloria Phillips (husband Chas), and many nieces, nephews and other family members.

Family and friends are welcome to join a service for Tom at Crippin Funeral Home in Montrose, Colorado on Saturday February 10, 2024 at 3:00 PM Mountain Time to celebrate Tom’s life.

Contributions can be made in memory of Tom Swanson to: Hilltop: Life Adjustment Brain Injury, 1331 Hermosa Ave., Grand Junction, CO 81506.