Paul "David" Swardstrom

Paul "David" Swardstrom, age 82, a resident of Naperville, IL since 1991, went to be with the Lord on Monday, August 18, 2025, at his home. David was born on September 29, 1942, to Paul W. and Mary (Moe) Swardstrom in Harvey, North Dakota.

The Swardstrom and Long families have been friends for generations, and as generational friends David and Eileene (Long) naturally met at combined family gatherings throughout the years, forming a friendship that blossomed into a cherished romance and eventual marriage on December 28, 1969 that has lasted over 55 years.

David was a devoted family man, raising four children -- Paul (Amy) Swardstrom of Portland, OR; Elizabeth (David) Baker of Oswego, IL; William (Sarah) Swardstrom of Albion, IL; and Matthew (Heather) Swardstrom of Wheaton, IL. He was the proud grandfather to six - Molly (Austin) Sparks of Clarksville, TN, and Jonathan Swardstrom; Liana and Justin Swardstrom; and Kenneth and Nathan Baker. He is also survived by sisters, Arlene Hansen of Quilcene, WA; Sandra Heinle of Summerville, SC; Merrilee (Bill) Foote of Spearfish, SD, and a sister-in-law, Barbara Swardstrom of Georgetown, TX.

David was preceded in death by his father and mother; his in-laws, Kenneth and Beulah Long; a sister, Wanda Joyce; a brother, John; and a brother-in-law, Wes Hansen.

David grew up on the family farm at Hurdsfield, North Dakota. After David graduated from Hurdsfield High School in 1961, he went on to study Physics at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND. After acquiring his B.S., David completed some graduate work at Penn State University and then received a master's degree in mathematics from Texas A&M University. He also completed some post-graduate work in Computer Science at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis.

After school, he taught for a time at NDSU in Fargo and also University of Wisconsin-Whitewater before transitioning to the corporate world. His career in computer science and telecommunications took him to Virginia Beach, VA; Puerto Rico; Sunnyvale, CA; Ann Arbor, MI; Phoenix, AZ; and finally, Naperville, IL. Through his work he also obtained several patents in the field of telecommunications. He was part of a worldwide telecommunications standards group. He held an office in that group and that was the group that helped establish and maintain standards in Europe and America, a role that he was especially proud of during trips overseas.

He never forgot his roots in North Dakota, cherishing the Swardstrom family farm throughout his life. He loved talking about his youth on the farm and the daily responsibilities he had as he grew up on the farm in rural North Dakota.

David was a member of the Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Naperville, having been a faithful member of the Nazarene Church for over 50 years. As a child he attended the Church of God (Anderson) and later the Mennonite Church, where his father was a pastor. Throughout his various career stops he served in a number of ministries and appointed positions in his home churches, including participating in bus ministry, missionary president, Sunday school superintendent, church treasurer, board member, and usher. Most recently, at Trinity Church he enjoyed helping prepare meals for Hesed House in Aurora, IL. "I don't know what I would be if I hadn't started going to church with Eileene," he said to his brother once.

David was naturally a quiet man but never missed an opportunity for a good pun or dad joke. Whether you knew him or not, often once asked a question, David would pause before answering and, more times than not, with a twinkle in his eyes, he'd reply with something he found humorous. He loved to read, studying the Bible throughout his life, but also packing his shelves with westerns, mysteries and the best of science fiction and fantasy.

He was a proud member of the Naperville Lions Club and especially enjoyed selling balloons during the annual Labor Day Parade in downtown Naperville. David was a "behind-the-scenes" worker – putting in work throughout his life without the recognition, whether it was with his own children, at church, or other clubs and ministries. He was very generous, especially with his time. David also loved to travel, taking his family on multiple cross-country vacations over the years. He was always involved in his kids' and grandkids' activities, attending band and choral concerts, quiz meets, church plays and cantatas, scouting events from pinewood derbies to cookie sales, soccer games, dinner theaters, and too many more to count.

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025, 3:00-6:00 PM at Trinity Church of the Nazarene, 1451 Raymond Dr, Naperville, IL 60563, (630) 778-0328.

A celebration of David's life will be held on Saturday, August 23, 10:00 AM in the church with Pastor David King officiating.

Interment will follow at Lincoln Memorial Park, Aurora, IL. Please join the family back at church for a luncheon reception after the burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations in David's memory may be made to: Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Please make checks payable to: General Treasurer and send them to: Global Treasury Services, Church of the Nazarene, 17001 Prairie Star Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66220, 800-310-6362, https://ncm.org/ or Hesed House, Attn: Development, 659 South River Street, Aurora, IL 60506 630-914-6428, https://www.hesedhouse.org/

or

Hesed House, Attn: Development, 659 South River Street, Aurora, IL 60506 630-914-6428, https://www.hesedhouse.org/

Arrangements by Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, IL 60540.

For more information, please visit www.friedrich-jones.com or call (630) 355-0213.