Jo Adair Bertken Swan

Jo Adair Bertken Swan, 77, of Sun City - Bluffton, SC, died Saturday, November 16, 2013, at home surrounded by family after a heroic 12 year battle with COPD. Jodie was born to the late Jack Bertken and Aveline Tritsch on December 14, 1935, in Merced, CA. She graduated from Greensboro College in NC in 1977 with her Teachers Certification in Special Education. She was married to Calvin Hardy Swan, January 1955 in Reno, NV, and moved with him from California to Michigan, then to the Carolinas where they finally settled in Sun City Hilton Head for the last 13 years. Jodie was a fourth generation Californian whose family heritage included the development of the first railroad into Yosemite Valley. Her first job was in journalism writing columns for a local Sacramento area paper. During their residence in Ludington, MI, Jodie, a talented seamstress, made costumes for the local plays, and continued her sewing of clothes and quilts throughout her lifetime. Their residence in Greensboro, NC, for 27 years allowed Jodie to pursue her teaching passion. Upon graduation from Greensboro College, Jodie taught at Allen Junior High School as a Special Education Teacher. In order to help even more, she became a licensed Irlen Lens Specialist aiding numerous dyslexic adults and helping children learn to read through colored lenses. Her joy in seeing eyes and words connect through their smiles made Jodie know she had improved someone's life. While living in Sun City, Jodie was very involved in and enjoyed the Sewing and Reading Clubs. Her early involvement in the sewing club led Jodie to take on the challenge of quilt making. She completed several quilts for her family members which will long be cherished. Jodie's reading was always voracious and broad-spectrum. Her love of journalism took her through various authors and styles of writing. One of her special treats was eating vegetables Cal grew in his Okatie Farmers garden. For the last several years, when mobility was a problem, Jodie would sit on the back patio watching Cal perfect the beautiful home landscape which they both cherished. Jodie truly enjoyed her years at Sun City and all the friends she made, and she will be missed. Jodie was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She is survived by her husband, Cal, and her children: Dan and wife Betsy Swan of High Point, NC; Cal Jr, and wife Anne Swan of Elma, WA; and Diane and husband Chris Pohanka of Alexandria, VA. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Donations are requested in lieu of flowers to be made to Tidewater Hospice, 10 Buckingham Plantation Dr, Suite A, Bluffton, SC 29910. A family celebration of life will be held at a later date. A family celebration of life will be held at a later date.