Rodger Jeffrey Swan Battle Creek Rodger Jeffrey Swan, 23, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 in Hanamaki, Japan. Rodger was born in Urbana, Illinois on December 19, 1986 to Randy and Roberta (Lunsford) Swan. Rodger graduated from Lakeview High School in 2005 and received his Bachelors Degree in English with Honors from Western Michigan University in 2009. For his junior year at W.M.U., Rodger received a full scholarship to attend Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. Rodger was currently employed as an Assistant English Teacher instructing beginning English for Japanese students at three separate High Schools in Hanamaki. While living in Japan, Rodger produced a series of YouTube videos on everyday life in Japan. This series was named Iwate Swan for the district in Japan where he was currently assigned. Rodger was also currently working on a translation of Japanese short stories which will be published this summer with the aid of his former Professor at Western Michigan University. Rodger enjoyed a variety of music, especially his favorite band, Depeche Mode. He was also interested in Japanese literature and other forms of Japanese culture, and had a great love of movies. He is survived by his parents Randy and Roberta, brothers Brenden and Erik, grandparents Elvin and Marilyn Swan all of Battle Creek and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He is also survived by his fiancée, Rebecca Makas of Dearborn. Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home with The Rev. Robert F. Creagan of St. Joseph Catholic Church officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Rodger Swan Memorial Fund for Japanese Studies. This scholarship was established to support students at Western Michigan University who are studying Japanese and traveling to Japan from W.M.U.
