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July 17, 1966
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November 15, 2026
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church, 415 Newark Pompton Trpk, Pompton Plains, NJ, on Thursday, November 19, 2026 from 5-7 PM. A funeral service will be held at 7 PM at the church, immediately following the visiting hours. Jim will be laid to rest at 10 AM on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026 at the First Reformed Church Cemetery, Pompton Plains.
James R. Swan, age 60, of Butler, passed away on Friday, November 13, 2026, with his beloved wife, Denise, by his side.
Jim enjoyed his childhood in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, graduating from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1984. After high school, he began working part-time at UPS, loading trucks while putting himself through college. He earned his undergraduate degree in communications from William Paterson and later pursued his interest in theology, completing his master’s degree at the Reformed Theological Seminary.
Jim’s career with UPS spanned 42 years, including approximately 25 years as a driver. He was a member of Teamsters Local 177 and retired just a few months ago. Jim held several positions at UPS throughout those years and especially enjoyed the coworkers and responsibilities of his most recent assignment at the Parsippany location. Conscientious and principled, Jim believed in doing things one way; correctly. His family laughingly recalled the time a well-known quarterback for the NEW YORK JETS arrived at the UPS depot to collect an important package, but without identification. Jim, following policy, wouldn’t give up the package and turned him away! Jim’s dismayed coworkers all recognized the quarterback, but Jim had little interest in sports and had no idea who the man actually was.
His family described Jim as a Renaissance man, a fitting description for someone whose interests encompassed music, film, writing, history, and theology. A classically trained guitarist, he also played bass and the Chapman Stick, an unusual instrument that reflected his musical curiosity. His listening tastes were equally adventurous, ranging from progressive rock to experimental jazz. He appreciated creativity in its many forms and enjoyed sharing his discoveries with others.
Faith was central to Jim’s life. For approximately 26 years, he and Denise worshipped at Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church, where he taught adult Sunday school and began serving as an elder in 2025. A devoted student of the Reformation, Jim developed a particular expertise in the life and writings of Martin Luther. He delighted in careful research, examining original sources and working through German texts to better understand their meaning.
For more than 20 years, Jim shared his research and reflections through his blog, “Beggars All.” Writing was far more than an obligation to him; it was something he did for the sheer enjoyment of learning and explaining. His family affectionately recalled that he once spent a summer writing a lengthy scholarly paper simply for fun. At home, he could happily spend hours surrounded by the computer screens in his workspace, known as “Command Central,” researching and writing before emerging to join Denise.
Jim and Denise’s marriage grew from a longstanding friendship. Over time, shared conversations, hikes, and meals together revealed what others had already recognized: they belonged together. They married in Maui in 2000, beginning 26 years of marriage with a Hawaiian adventure. They made their home in Butler, sharing it with their much-loved Siamese cats.
Together, they enjoyed hiking, beach days, trips to Chincoteague, Virginia, and good food. Jim particularly liked spicy Indian and Thai dishes, enthusiastically requesting his meals “Thai hot,” even as his face turned bright red. The hotter it was, the more he loved it. His adventurous tastes were balanced by a calm, steady presence that Denise treasured.
Jim also possessed a distinctive, wonderfully sarcastic sense of humor. He could be quietly observant one moment and deliver a perfectly timed remark the next. To his many nieces and nephews, he was the fun uncle, someone who shared their interests in music and movies and was always enjoyable to talk with. His curiosity, wit, and easy companionship will be deeply missed.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Denise; his brother, David Swan of North Carolina; his sister, Dianna Rienstra and her husband, Mark, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania; twelve nieces and nephews; and extended family and friends. He was predeceased by two brothers, Raymond Swan in 2001 and Warren Swan in 2015, and by his parents; Raymond and Olga Swan
Friends may visit with the family at the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church, 415 Newark Pompton Trpk, Pompton Plains, NJ, on Thursday, November 19, 2026 from 5-7 PM. A funeral service will be held at 7 PM at the church, immediately following the visiting hours. Jim will be laid to rest at 10 AM on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026 at the First Reformed Church Cemetery, Pompton Plains.
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Friends may visit with the family at the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church, 415 Newark Pompton Trpk, Pompton Plains, NJ, on Thursday, November 19, 2026 from 5-7 PM. A funeral service will be held at 7 PM at the church, immediately following the visiting hours. Jim will be laid to rest at 10 AM on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026 at the First Reformed Church Cemetery, Pompton Plains.
November 15, 2026
November 15, 2026
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church, 415 Newark Pompton Trpk, Pompton Plains, NJ, on Thursday, November 19, 2026 from 5-7 PM. A funeral service will be held at 7 PM at the church, immediately following the visiting hours. Jim will be laid to rest at 10 AM on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026 at the First Reformed Church Cemetery, Pompton Plains.
James R. Swan, age 60, of Butler, passed away on Friday, November 13, 2026, with his beloved wife, Denise, by his side.
Jim enjoyed his childhood in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, graduating from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1984. After high school, he began working part-time at UPS, loading trucks while putting himself through college. He earned his undergraduate degree in communications from William Paterson and later pursued his interest in theology, completing his master’s degree at the Reformed Theological Seminary.
Jim’s career with UPS spanned 42 years, including approximately 25 years as a driver. He was a member of Teamsters Local 177 and retired just a few months ago. Jim held several positions at UPS throughout those years and especially enjoyed the coworkers and responsibilities of his most recent assignment at the Parsippany location. Conscientious and principled, Jim believed in doing things one way; correctly. His family laughingly recalled the time a well-known quarterback for the NEW YORK JETS arrived at the UPS depot to collect an important package, but without identification. Jim, following policy, wouldn’t give up the package and turned him away! Jim’s dismayed coworkers all recognized the quarterback, but Jim had little interest in sports and had no idea who the man actually was.
His family described Jim as a Renaissance man, a fitting description for someone whose interests encompassed music, film, writing, history, and theology. A classically trained guitarist, he also played bass and the Chapman Stick, an unusual instrument that reflected his musical curiosity. His listening tastes were equally adventurous, ranging from progressive rock to experimental jazz. He appreciated creativity in its many forms and enjoyed sharing his discoveries with others.
Faith was central to Jim’s life. For approximately 26 years, he and Denise worshipped at Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church, where he taught adult Sunday school and began serving as an elder in 2025. A devoted student of the Reformation, Jim developed a particular expertise in the life and writings of Martin Luther. He delighted in careful research, examining original sources and working through German texts to better understand their meaning.
For more than 20 years, Jim shared his research and reflections through his blog, “Beggars All.” Writing was far more than an obligation to him; it was something he did for the sheer enjoyment of learning and explaining. His family affectionately recalled that he once spent a summer writing a lengthy scholarly paper simply for fun. At home, he could happily spend hours surrounded by the computer screens in his workspace, known as “Command Central,” researching and writing before emerging to join Denise.
Jim and Denise’s marriage grew from a longstanding friendship. Over time, shared conversations, hikes, and meals together revealed what others had already recognized: they belonged together. They married in Maui in 2000, beginning 26 years of marriage with a Hawaiian adventure. They made their home in Butler, sharing it with their much-loved Siamese cats.
Together, they enjoyed hiking, beach days, trips to Chincoteague, Virginia, and good food. Jim particularly liked spicy Indian and Thai dishes, enthusiastically requesting his meals “Thai hot,” even as his face turned bright red. The hotter it was, the more he loved it. His adventurous tastes were balanced by a calm, steady presence that Denise treasured.
Jim also possessed a distinctive, wonderfully sarcastic sense of humor. He could be quietly observant one moment and deliver a perfectly timed remark the next. To his many nieces and nephews, he was the fun uncle, someone who shared their interests in music and movies and was always enjoyable to talk with. His curiosity, wit, and easy companionship will be deeply missed.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Denise; his brother, David Swan of North Carolina; his sister, Dianna Rienstra and her husband, Mark, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania; twelve nieces and nephews; and extended family and friends. He was predeceased by two brothers, Raymond Swan in 2001 and Warren Swan in 2015, and by his parents; Raymond and Olga Swan
Friends may visit with the family at the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church, 415 Newark Pompton Trpk, Pompton Plains, NJ, on Thursday, November 19, 2026 from 5-7 PM. A funeral service will be held at 7 PM at the church, immediately following the visiting hours. Jim will be laid to rest at 10 AM on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026 at the First Reformed Church Cemetery, Pompton Plains.
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