John Frederick Swan, 96, a longtime resident of Bridgewater NJ, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2025.

Fred was born on June 30, 1928 to Florence and John Frederick Swan Sr. in South Bound Brook, NJ. Attending Bound Brook High School during World War II, he was certified as an Air Raid Messenger, a skill he fortunately never had to use. Following graduation, he went to business school. This credential allowed him to serve as a clerk in Germany during the Korean War. After leaving the service, he joined his father in running Swan Handle Corporation, a handle wholesaler in NYC. He eventually took over the business and ran it until his retirement in the mid 1990's.

Fred met his future bride, Alice, in the mid 1950's after a friend of his sister, Margaret, called seeking for a 4th for bridge. Margaret said "I don't play bridge, but my brother does." They soon started dating, married in 1958, settled in Bridgewater in 1961, and went on to have two daughters, Jennifer and Elizabeth.

Fred was an active member of the North Branch Reformed Church and served as an Elder, a Deacon, Clerk of Consistory, and on numerous committees from the 1960s through 2024. Both he and Alice loved gardening and were members of the local garden club. For decades, their garden produced bountiful crops of a wide variety of vegetables. When not in the garden, Fred enjoyed wood working and was a skilled home handyman. He was also an avid reader of both current events and history, and rarely missed the PBS News Hour. Most of all though, he will be remembered for his warm unassuming demeanor and wit.

Fred was predeceased by his parents, older sisters Kathryn Kinstler and Margaret Jakoplic and brother-in-law Robert Kinstler. He is survived by his wife Alice Swan, daughters Jennifer Myers and husband Christopher, Elizabeth Donovan and husband Kevin, grandchildren Theodore Myers, Julia Donovan, Hannah Donovan and Lindsey Myers, brother-in-law Charles Jakoplic, as well as ten nieces and nephews who affectionately called him Uncle Freddy.

Services will be held at the North Branch Reformed Church on February 15, 2025 at 11:30 AM. There will be visitation preceding the service at 10:30 AM in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to North Branch Reformed Church. A private burial for family will be held at a later date.