John Bernhardt Swart

John Bernhardt Swart, 84, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2026, surrounded by his family. 

Born in San Francisco, John was a lifelong Bay Area resident who spent most of his years in San Rafael. He graduated from San Rafael High School and after attending Cal Poly State University for four years, began his career in San Francisco selling fine papers to printers and lithographers. John received numerous awards and commendations for his work. He also devoted much of his time to working with others, such as the San Rafael Volunteer Police Force and Marin Volunteer Services. 

John cherished time spent with family and friends, from summers at the Russian River in his younger years, to later trips to Hawaii and Lake Tahoe, along with cruises to Mexico and the Bahamas. 

Above all, John was a people person. He took a genuine interest in others, always wanting to hear stories, opinions and experiences. He regularly met with old school friends to relive shared memories, and Friday night poker games with his pals was a tradition he cherished. 

John was especially proud of his Christian faith. He was baptized in 1993 and remained devoted to his faith throughout his life. 

John is survived by his wife, Kathleen Swart; daughters Jennifer Anderson (Scot) and Lisa Wagner; grandsons Caden Anderson and Jace Anderson; his sister Joan Rianda (Norm) and many nieces and cousins. 

A Celebration of Life is planned for 11:30am on September 13, 2026 at Perry's Restaurant, Larkspur, CA.

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