Douglas James Swanson, 50, found eternal rest on October 22, 2009, following complications from a long term disability due to a serious accident in 1992. Doug was born on February 19, 1959, in Montpelier, Vermont. His mother and father love to tell the story of how they had to put extra weight in the back over the tires of the Volkswagen Beetle to get better traction in the blinding snowstorm they faced on the way to the hospital where he was born. When Doug was six months old the family left Vermont and moved to Park Ridge, Illinois, where he went to elementary, junior high and high school. Doug enjoyed playing hockey as a boy, and continued to skate and play recreationally throughout much of his adult life. He also developed his life-long love of "collecting”, begun while working at Doc's Coin Shop in Park Ridge during junior high school. Doug graduated in 1977 from Maine South High School in Park Ridge. Doug attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he made a host of lifelong friends, served as house manager for his fraternity, and majored in business. After graduation in 1981, Doug returned to Park Ridge and lived with his grandmother in the family home. He commuted to Chicago to several different jobs, but soon realized his true calling was in retail business. He found his first "shoe job" at Wehde Shoes in Park Ridge. This eventually led him to a long term position at The Bootery in Highland Park, Illinois, and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Doug suffered a tragic accident in 1992, after which he called upon his "Swanson stubbornness" and made an amazing recovery against all odds. Within a year Doug went back to work on the sales floor at The Bootery. He kept doing all the things he loved, including fishing at Greg Bowen's cabin in northern Wisconsin, listening to live music at festivals like the Chicago Blues and Jazz Festivals, and going to flea markets and garage sales in search of 8 track tapes, vintage cocktail shakers or any of the myriad of other collectibles to which he was drawn. His three brothers feel particularly blessed that Doug was able to be a part of their weddings over the past few years. In 2008, Doug realized his lifelong dream of owning his own home in Wisconsin, which he renovated into a peaceful gathering place for family and friends. He loved to garden, grill on the patio, and sit under the trees to watch the birds brighten the world around him. Doug's far-flung family would like to give special thanks to his adopted family of devoted and faithful friends who helped Doug over the years during all the times when we couldn't be there for him, particularly John Pistone, Jimmy Hoshell, Joe Tomscyk, Greg Bowen, and Roger Wolf. The family would also like to thank all of the doctors and specialists who helped Doug over the last seventeen years. Doug leaves his father, Robert L. Swanson and stepmother, Carmen Swanson; his mother, Kay N. Rowe and stepfather, Willard C. Rowe; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Steven A. Swanson and Elizabeth Beal, John R. and Greta H. Swanson, and William A. Swanson and Alena Rudolph; his nieces and nephews, Soren, Sally, and Annika Swanson and Elsa Rudolph-Swanson. His maternal grandparents, Albert J. and Katherine Nielsen and paternal grandparents, John A. and Margaret Swanson preceded him in death. A memorial gathering celebrating Doug's life will be held on November 14, 2009, held at his residence, 8608-48th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53142, at 2:00 p.m. his for family and friends. Doug's family requests that donations be sent to the American Lung Association in his name in lieu of flowers.Proko Funeral Home & Crematory5111-60th StreetKenosha, WI 53144Phone: (262) 654-3533Visit Douglas’ Online Memorial Book at:www.prokofuneralhome.com