Birth date: Jul 19, 1939 Death date: Mar 30, 2025
Thomas Joseph Swan went home to be with the Lord on March 30, 2025. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 19, 1939. He was married 62 years to his loving spouse, Janet Lou Swan, who died in 2022. Tom is survived by his beloved Read Obituary
Bompa was an amazing person and I was very blessed to call him my grandfather. One of the richest gifts he gave me was a love of books and learning. He read until his last days, and he always had a book in hand. Because he was such an avid reader, he was incredibly knowledgeable on many topics - he knew a lot about a lot. I’m thankful to have had so many wonderful years with Bompa. I know he’s in heaven enjoying God’s library now.
It's so hard to put into words the impact you've you had on me over these last couple of years.
Tom and I spoke at least once a day, but usually 2 to 3 times. He has a wonderful way of guiding our conversations so that they would be useful to all parties. I can't put into words, really the impact Tom has had on me, Convention of States and all those surrounding him. He talked so lovingly about his wife, his children and his grandchildren. I came across this Choir this morning which says what I was hoping to say to Tom. I'll see you in the after life, Tom. May God Bless you and your family.
We called our grandfather “Bompa” due to an inability of the eldest grandchild to say Grandpa - and it stuck for the next 40 years. Bompa knew more about history and politics than anyone I’ve met. He was always so interesting to talk to. But perhaps more importantly, he was very interested in others. He would remember some minor details about things that were happening in my life and ask me about them, such as my house remodel or a change in job. A few years ago, he was able to come on a family reunion beach trip with all of us. I remember being frustrated that my little children were constantly needing me and I never was able to finish a conversation, or thought. He could have been frustrated too, since he was the one being interrupted. But he told me not to worry, this was the work of my season, and I wouldn’t regret patiently caring for them. I never saw him without a quick smile and deep belly laugh. He went through many trials in his life but in spite of this, or maybe because of, he was always kind, humble, and optimistic. We will miss him greatly. I have faith that he will be working for me and his great-grandchildren from heaven, in the same giving way that he was on Earth and hope for the grace of being reunited one day.
I found Tom to be a mentor by example. As was said by another he was humble. As was said by another he was humble. One only needed to watch and listen as Tom approached times of failure and times of accomplishment. He did both with the same steady deliberate calm controlled demeanor. It instilled confidence in his words of wisdom.
Now days, it’s hard to find his type of wisdom that doesn't carry with it an arrogance that puts people off. That wasn't Tom. His true humbleness always lead. It was such an endearing trait.
I’m blessed to have had him in my life. It was only too little time
So sorry to hear this! Tom was a wonderful PATRIOT. He did a lot to further the cause of Convention of States. It was a full time job for him. Tom and I had the same reason for volunteering for COS. It's for our grandchildren! I will miss you my friend but I am sure we will meet again! 🙏🇺🇸
How can mere words describe how much we will miss Tom in our lives each day? He brought sunshine and light to everyone he worked with in every contact he had! His ability to make a complex issue simpler was somewhat astounding but he did it without fail. We were blessed to have him with us and will miss him terribly but know that he is looking down and cheering us on to victory! To echo Denah's message, he was a true winter soldier never shying from a challenge or stepping back from action. He cheered all on and embraced change with an honest heart. Tom, was in many ways the wind beneath our wings at Convention of States. Keeping us grounded and purposeful in our recruitment efforts, he found the perfect spot for those who wished to join in the effort to achieve change in our country.
Tom will always be in my heart and I will think of him frequently, changing the tone of my voice as it might be offensive because that is what he would have done. Remembering to listen because that is what he would have done. Striving for compassion because that is how Tom led. Embracing the love that he shared with so many of us and knowing I will fall short but still striving to achieve all he did daily!
Tom I know God is smiling that you have come to him and rejoicing that you are there. We love you dearly and will cherish every memory, every conversation, and the reality of the wonderful man you were while here on this earth!
In our volunteer organization, many pass through like shooting stars—brilliant but fleeting. Then there are the rare few, the winter soldiers, who endure with unwavering dedication. Tom was the epitome of a winter soldier. He embodied the grit and perseverance required for anything truly worthwhile. Close to my own heart, he embraced constant change, always moving with it rather than being its victim. He approached his volunteer role with the commitment of a paid job, understanding that the reward for his passion was the gift of service. A true servant leader, his gentle nature often masked his leadership—most never even noticed he was guiding them.
Tom had an uncanny ability to spot people’s strengths and passions, gently nudging them toward where they could shine brightest for the team. He led from within, not above. As his State Director, I often found myself following his quiet lead, though he’d heap praise on my leadership with a nod and a smirk I couldn’t help but return. I’ll miss his gentle, loquacious spirit—those countless hours of phone banter and laughter that now feel like a dream too precious to lose.
He fought alongside us until he left us for Father. I picture him now, chatting with that same gentle eloquence, Father nodding back with a faint smirk. Tom, I love you, man. Thank you for the gift of who you became—not just to our team, but to me as an extraordinary right-hand man. I don’t know how we’ll carry on without you, yet I suspect you’re still rallying us from Heaven. You’re forever in my heart and always on my mind.
The world is full of bystanders and passersby—the masses sedated by tides of banality and conformity. Rarely does an individual come along still emboldened by a renaissance spirit, unaffected by the pressures of convention, clear-minded and sober from the drink of ignorance, not yet beaten down into submission by the tyranny of the so-called intellects. The dogma of the masses cannot be stomached by the soul of such a formidable man as Tom. He was a free thinker, yes, but he belonged to a smaller club still: a lover of wisdom—a true philosopher indeed.
It’s all too easy to stroll through the path of life without bothering to witness the beauty along the way: it’s easier still to ignore the common tragedies scattered across the journey. It’s tempting to safeguard one’s own beliefs to make sense of it all, but, Tom, he took the road less traveled by. He was a man burdened by injustice and brave enough to tear down his own conceptions and rebuild an empire of thought and virtue that he could truly call his own. Though this world’s misgivings often troubled him, his most courageous act was to see the light in a sea of darkness, always allowing his faith to be his guidepost, his anchor during life’s stormy seas. Tom sowed his seed on good soil, where it produced a crop a hundred times greater than what was sown.
Nobody is perfect—not even my dear friend Tom. But few have the humility to understand that truth—Tom did. I had the privilege of knowing a man who saw both his blessings and shortcomings with the same honest eyes. Tom’s way was to conquer trials while magnifying beauty. His greatest gift to me was his unwavering optimism. He saw me for all that I am—the good, the bad, the ugly. He celebrated what was good, loved me despite the bad, and offered strength to face the ugly.
I regret that we didn’t have more time together, but I am so fortunate that my life was touched by such a special man. His wisdom lives on in my mind, and his warmth lingers in my heart. In a final act of stubbornness, I hope they remain forever—in me and in all of us. I love you, Tom.
