Steven Phillip Swan

Steven Phillip (Doc) Swan of Burlingame, KS, lost his 18 month long battle with lung cancer on July 24, 2015. He faced his greatest battle courage and dignity.

Steven was born in Warner Robbins, GA, on December 4, 1960, to Phillip Gerald Swan and Margaret (Peggy) Lindgren. He joined the U.S.Navy on May 29, 1989, and become a Corpman and was assigned to the United States Marine Corp as a medic. He was part of the Marine Corp that took back Kuwait City during Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield. He was medically discharged on December 16, 1990 after being injured in an accident upon the USS Ranger upon leaving the Middle East.

Steve came to Kansas in 1993 working for Thomas Transfer United Van Lines in Emporia, Kansas. He met Donna Fox while working at Thomas Transfer. They married May 29, 1994 at the Assembly of God Church. They later owned and operated Ugly Duckling Furniture Repair. After Steve reinjured his right shoulder they were forced to close the business and he worked at several different jobs. He attended Bryant College and received his Medical Assistant certificate. He started working as a phlebotomist at Colmery-Oneill VA Medical Center. Many of his patients claimed they never knew when he was sticking them and drawing their blood. He was pleased with his nicknames of Bloodsucker and Vampire. He later transferred to the Emergency Room as an Emergency Tech where he medically retired due to his cancer on January 31, 2015. Steve could work with any veteran no matter whether they were World War II, Vietnam, Korea, Panama, Iran/Iraq, or Afghanistan. As he was also a veteran he could develop a relationship with any of the veterans. Nothing was more important than HIS VETERAN patients.

Steve also worked as an EMT in Quenemo, Melvern, and Burlingame.

Steven his survived by his parents Phillip of Barefoot Bay, Florida; his mother, Peggy, of VanBuren, Maine; his son, Nathan, from a prior relationship in Maine; his son, Christopher, from a prior marriage; his wife Donna, two stepsons, Sean P. Kelley and Erin M. Kelley, his wife Suzie and two granddaughters Kaylee and Emily. He is also survived by two brothers: Andrew of Orange, Virginia and Charles of Caribou, Maine. Nieces and nephews Levi, Morgan, Heather, Phillip. He is also survived by his Aunt Alexis Ward and Uncle Larry Lindgren. He was pre-deceased by one stepson, Daniel Kelley.

He was very proud of his medical profession.

There will be a Memorial Service at the VA Chapel at 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 .m. on Thursday, July 30, 2015. Funeral and Burial will be at 9:00 a.m., July 31, 2015 at the Leavenworth VA National Cemetary in Leavenworth, KS.

Rather than flowers or plants we would like all donations to be made to the VA Volunters Office c/o Denise at 21st and Gage. Steve wanted a memorial bench with his name on it outside of the ER for his co-workers and patients to have a resting place. Steve also developed a Memorial coin with the Kansas state seal on one side and the verbage from when the flag is presented to the family. These coins are given to any veterans family when they die at the VA hospital.