June Swannack

who lived some 55 years in Beloit, Wisconsin, died peacefully on Wednesday, October 29 at the home of her daughter Susan on Bainbridge Island, Washington, surrounded by family. She was 94.June was born in Mount Vernon, Washington, on June 8, 1914, the eighth in a family of 9 children of Arthur Walters and Addie Chamberlin. She was valedictorian of her high school class in Burlington, Washington and graduated with a B.A. Magna Cum Laude from Washington State University in 1935 where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She worked summers during her college years at Yellowstone National Park. While in college she met her husband, Jervis. After teaching English, Latin and French in high school, she married and moved to Wisconsin. They moved from Milwaukee to Beloit when her husband took an engineering position with Fairbanks Morse (later Colt Industries). They raised three children in Beloit and were active in community affairs.June was a founder of the League of Women Voters in Beloit, and served in leadership positions in a number of other organizations including PEO, PTA, YWCA, ACLU, United Nations Association, Mental Health Council and the Democratic Party. She received a number of awards for her work in these organizations. She and Jervis received an award in 1989 for "outstanding contributions to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin." June was also proud of helping save Mechanics Green for the enjoyment of the people who lived nearby. She worked in the Rock County Community Action Program (Family Planning, Head Start and Food Stamps), as a substitute teacher in the Beloit public schools and for the Federal Bureau of the Census. She was a member of East End Club and a volunteer at the Beloit Senior Center. She was an active member of the Second Congregational Church and later the First Presbyterian Church.In 1995 she moved from Beloit to be with son Jervis in Walnut Grove, BC Canada and then in 2002, in her own apartment on Bainbridge Island, Washington, near Susan and husband Jack Nunn and their son, Jack Elliott. In January of this year, she moved into Susan's home. June loved to travel and enjoyed many trips with husband Jervis around the United States and in England and Ireland doing genealogical research, as well as Canada, Europe and Russia. In later years, she and her sister Martha from California visited often. They took several cruises together to see the world - the Panama Canal, South America and Norway. She also visited Turkey on another trip. In 2004, she had a wonderful trip to France with son Jervis and grandson Erik in celebration of her 90th birthday. The highlight of that trip was a week on a rented canal boat on the Canal du Midi in southern France. June was a strong and highly intelligent person, and set a great example for her family. She was always gracious and very supportive, in good humor and always willing to experience new adventures. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, endless scrabble games with her extended family and giving and receiving hugs from her grandchildren. She also happily cast her last ballot for Barack Obama!June is survived by son Jervis D. Swannack III of French Creek, Parksville, BC, Canada, daughter Susan Swannack-Nunn (Jack H. Nunn) of Bainbridge Island, WA; grandsons Jervis D. Swannack IV of Swan Hills, Alberta, Canada, Erik Swannack of Aromas, CA, and Jack Elliott Swannack Nunn of Bainbridge Island, WA; great granddaughters Daniella, Deanna, Ashley and Amber; and many nieces and nephews. June was predeceased by husband Jervis D. Swannack II, son Clarke Elliott Swannack and granddaughter Amy Elizabeth Swannack Sloan. Family and friends are indeed fortunate to have been in her presence for so very long.A celebration of life honoring June will be held in Beloit on Saturday, December 13, 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the Beloit Inn - 500 Pleasant Street, Beloit, WI 53511. Friends and neighbors are invited to join and reminisce with family members. Donations to the League of Women Voters of Beloit in memory of June are appreciated.