Donald Gregory Swanson

Donald Gregory Swanson, age 81, of Park City, Utah, passed away on May 3, 2025, from complications of cancer. Don was born in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on August 29, 1943.

Don enjoyed growing up near the Headwaters of the Mississippi River. He attended grade school in a one room schoolhouse. Don began his college career at the University of Minnesota, but moved to Salt Lake for the skiing and never left. He finished his college education at the University of Utah, earning his bachelor's degree in marketing and finance. He went on to obtain a special certificate in insurance.

Following college, Don joined the Army and served in the Honor Guard for two years where he taught himself to play the fife. He used his knowledge of having played the saxophone to assist with this.

After his service in the Army, Don began working for Travelers Insurance Company. He stayed with them throughout his career and retired from his position as Regional Director for the Intermountain West. While working for Travelers, Don made many friends.

Don had a passion and drive for maintaining his home and yard. He was quite handy and was able to build patios, home additions, hot tubs, fire pits and a mountainside staircase to add to his enjoyment of his home.

When not working on his home, Don loved to keep himself busy playing. He loved all things golf—watching, playing, practicing, and talking. He was a graceful skier and loved the sport. He also enjoyed hunting pheasants in Idaho with good friends and his dog. On warmer days, Don could be found on the lake with his Hobie cat boat, or fishing in the river.

Don was a dog lover at heart and considered his dogs as loyal members of his family.

Don married his sweet pea Janice and they enjoyed traveling, entertaining, and golfing together.

Don will be remembered as a hardworking, goal-oriented, honest, and generous genuine person. Don had a witty sense of humor, with a large vocabulary and loved to speak with metaphors and visual imagery.

Don is survived by his brother Stephen, sister-in law Sharyl, stepson Matt (Brittany) Hanson, stepdaughter Shauna (Jim) Swinyard, granddaughters Abigail, Elizabeth, Katherine, Makenna, Caroline, Maiya, and Hailey, nephew Eric Swanson, and great-nieces Abigail and Grace Swanson. Don is preceded in death by his parents Carl and Irene Swanson, brother Larry, sister-in-law Nancy Vollum Swanson, and wife Janice Hawkes Hanson Swanson.

In lieu of flowers, Don’s family requests donations be made to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.