John Swistock

Swistock, John, August 27, 2012, age 94 of Canton. Loving husband of the late Thelma for 65 years. Beloved father of Robert (Barbara) and David. Dear brother of William Swistock and Marjorie Kupar, and the late George Swistock, Lewis Swistock Jr, Kate Kushner, Ann Flynn, Suzanne Sheldon, Mary Thompson, and Eleanor Slovak. John was born January 1918 in Madera, Pennsylvania to Lewis and Mary Swistock. He attended Madera High School and played baseball for the Pioneers (Madera), which were recognized as one of the premier amateur teams by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. As a gifted athlete he had the opportunity to sign a professional baseball contract, but declined. After a short time working in the local coal mine, he joined the CCC in 1936, working in Virginia and California during the depression years. After the CCC he moved to Detroit, Michigan to join his older brothers working at Ford Motor Compay. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1941 to join the Army with his fellow Pennsylvanians (World War II), became a sergeant with the 475 Artillery Division and served in both New Guinea and Guadalcanal. After the war, John returned to Ford Motor Company in Dearborn from where he married Thelma and raised two sons. He retired from Ford Motor Co. in 1980 after 40 years of service. He loved travel and all sports, especially golf, baseball and deer hunting in Clearfield County. He also enjoyed returning to his beloved Pennsylvania to visit his father's farmhouse in Madera, the 475 reunion in Bloomsburg and high school reunions and visits with his brothers, sisters and cousins in Cleveland and Madera. Visitation Friday 3-9 PM at Vermeulen Funeral Home, 46401 W Ann Arbor Road (btwn. Sheldon and Beck) Plymouth. Parastas Prayer Service Friday 7 PM. Instate Saturday 10:30 AM until 11 AM Funeral Service at St. Michael Orthodox Church, 26355 W. Chicago (btwn. Inkster and Beech Daly) Redford 48239. Interment United Memorial Gardens, Plymouth. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael Orthodox Church or Bob Hope USO, 203 World Way West, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90045 or The Arbor Hospice Foundation, 2366 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103-8944. To share a memory, please use the View and Send Condolences tab on this web page.

John Swistock

January 19, 1918 - August 27, 2012