Wayne E. Swisher

To watch a recording of the service, please use the link: https://youtu.be/xHUgRlsAo7A 

Wayne Swisher’s hard-working hands, accustomed to holding cups of his favorite hot coffee, came to rest on October 13th 2025. Surrounding him were the people he loved most; his best friend and beloved wife of 63 years Judy, his son Anthony and grandson Jacob, his son Jeremy with his partner Annie, and his two beautiful redheaded granddaughters, Zella and Jamiee, along with Jaimee’s husband Matt.

Wayne was one of the most kind and gentle souls you could come across. He listened and always had a response; either a story to tell or a lesson to teach. Or an "I don't know much about that” but continued to show us he actually did know about “that.” He was humble and selfless, even when it came to giving up his favorite donut to one of his grandkids, or lending tools to neighbors, or spending countless hours of his life to work with his students. He did these things plus more without hesitation.

Born in 1940, Wayne lived with his family just outside of Haxtun Colorado on the family farm. He was the youngest of 5 children, with responsibilities on the farm before and after school. He carried the skills he learned on the farm along with a strong work ethic throughout all his years.

Wayne attended Colorado State University where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He was awarded a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin in 1974.

CSU is also where he met his beloved wife, Judy Hefner. Both Wayne and Judy described their life together as “better than a Hallmark.” Following their marriage in 1962, they began many adventures: travel, moves, work, and the growth of family. Ultimately Wayne’s teaching career brought the family to Grand Forks ND, which has been home since 1986.

A major part of Wayne Swisher's story is the house he loved. He and Judy spent years creating their dream home out of a beautiful Victorian house with a remarkable history. Wayne was always thinking of what project to do next, from painting the outside (twice) to building a gazebo, to replacing the roof himself. He loved flowers and was also a gardener. Judy couldn't tell you how many gardening tools he went through or how many grass stains covered the knees of his jeans. He was constantly outside, enjoying the warm sun on his skin. Every time he came home he would stop to deadhead the geraniums and pause to enjoy the fruits of his and Judy’s labors.

Our beloved Wayne would tell you to “Be careful” and to enjoy the small things in life, as then there would be lots to enjoy. He was kind and generous to a fault. Wayne was a family man, a professor, a comedian, a “DIYer”, a kind neighbor, and a good friend.

Wayne Swisher was born November 29, 1940 to Gene and Hattie Swisher in Haxtun, Colorado. He taught at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where he served first as Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and then as Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Following his retirement from the Graduate School, Wayne served as a Facilitator in the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, working with first- and second-year medical students to share his lifetime of expertise with the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Wayne is survived by his beloved Judy, his sons Anthony and Jeremy, his grandchildren Jaimee, Zella, Michael, Noah, and Jacob, and the countless other people whose lives he touched in his 84 remarkable years.

Visitation will take place at Amundson Funeral Home on Sunday, Oct. 19, from 5-7 PM, with a Time of Sharing beginning at 6 PM. A Funeral Service will be held at Amundson Funeral Home on Monday, Oct. 20 at 1:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service.