Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 01/15/2015 02:49 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 01/15/2015 07:52 PM
Expires: 01/01/2020 12:00 AM
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In Loving Memory of Richard "Dick" William Swendeman
Angels Camp, CA...Dick Swendeman was born in Los Angeles, California, February 18, 1924. He died peacefully surrounded by family on December 26, 2014. He is survived by wife Junella North Swendeman of Tiburon, California; children: Crystal and Jerry Anderson of Idaho, Colleen Mullin of Belvedere, and Rick and Nicki Swendeman of Angels Camp; 10 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren and another due in February....
He was predeceased by grandson Marcus Swendeman; siblings: Jim Swendeman, Robert Swendeman, Wilma Volf; and Ardath Crosby; mother Crystal Swendeman and father Bill Swendeman.
Dick was a proud World War II veteran in the Army as a surgical technician during the Asiatic Pacific Campaign. He left San Francisco on the USS Mariposa to New York and arrived in Bombay 34 days later. He then traveled by truck across India to Calcutta, by river boat to Dihergar, Burma, and by truck to Ledo Road. His MASH unit was attached to the Chinese army and walked across Burma into China. He was overseas 22 months and his only break was a week hospital stay to treat malaria.
Since age 13, Dick was in the construction business until he retired Union Carpenter at age 65 years. At the age of 18 he became a journeyman carpenter. During his 65 years in construction he built not only houses but also a jail, schools, a church, restaurants, ski lift, airship hangers; remodels of many kinds; and theater stage rigging all over California.
In 1957 he built from the ground up a new family business with his wife, Junella, in San Andreas – the Patio Drive In – which is still in business today (under different ownership). His next business venture was in Sausalito, California, in 1964 where he and wife set up an art gallery and local artisans shop.
His last business venture was in the Swendeman Hardware store in Angels Camp in 1975. His father built the store in 1938. And after leasing it out for several years it had been closed for 13 months when Dick and Rick partnered to reopen the store. He was known to keep the store open late evenings.
Dick’s interests included model airplanes, photography, flying (he co-owned small planes). He was generous with his time and would help anyone who asked for help. His children would ask for help remodeling, repairing, and installing items like water heaters and sliding doors and he would immediately load up his pickup and head out.
His regular routine in the last several years was regular attendance at Rodz Grill. He appreciated the conversation and attention by the kind waitresses working there. It was here Dick’s children, some grandchildren and great-granchildren held a memorial breakfast for him the day after his death.
To date no other services have been planned.
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