Lyn Curtis Swift, died at the age of 89, Thursday, January 10, 2013, at Agrace Hospice in Madison, Wis. 

Lyn was born on May 1, 1923, in Kenosha, the only child of Harold Charles and Opal (Ryan) Curtis.  She spent most of her childhood in Kenosha, but also lived for a short time in Dallas, TX, and Glendale, CA.  Lyn graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in 1941 and then attended Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., and the Goodman Theater, Chicago. 

She met her husband, Dr. William (Bill) James Swift II of Chicago, in summer 1943. He escorted her to the Hotel Tremont in downtown Chicago for their first date. They were married on December 22, 1943 and enjoyed 47 years together. 

An actress by training and gifted with natural ability and beauty, Lyn was active with Kenosha Little Theater for many years and starred in such productions as "The Great Sebastians," "The Four Poster," and "My Fair Lady."  Lyn will be remembered for her sense of style and her love of theater, literature, art, glitter, movies, as well as her passion for music, Christmas decorations, spring flowers, nature, theology and time spent with friends and family.  Lyn was as comfortable discussing great ideas as she was making bologna sandwiches for the neighborhood kids, many of whom warmly called her "Aunt Lyn." 

Lyn often talked about her deep connection with nature.  She enjoyed taking quiet walks, alone or with friends, in Chiwaukee Prairie, the woodlands of Petrifying Springs, and in the fields and forests of her beloved Door County.  She gave freely of her time to the Kenosha Hospital Auxiliary, the Symphony League, and St. James Catholic Church as a lector.  In her later years, Lyn worked as a volunteer at the Shalom Center and at Kemper Center.

Lyn was generous and kind to everyone she met. She was a devoted and loving mother.  An unfulfilled desire of hers was to travel more.  Lyn showed enormous courage in facing illness, old age and death.  She is an inspiration for us.  We will remember her.  We will always love her. 

She is survived by her three children, Dr. William James (Edie) Swift, III, Christopher Michael Swift and Maria Kathleen Swift, all of Madison; her grandchildren, David, Daniel (Tracey), Nora, Susannah, and Alice; and her great-grandchildren, Jack and Charlotte. 

Lyn was preceded in death by her husband, Bill on March 24, 1991.

Inurnment will be held in Green Ridge Cemetery on Saturday, March 23, 11:00AM.  Immediately following, a gathering of relatives and friends will be held at the Kemper Center, 6501 3rd Ave.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to one of the following in Lyn’s memory would be appreciated by the family:

• The Nature Conservancy for Door County projects, 633 West Main Street, Madison, WI 53703;
•  Shalom Center, 1713 62nd Street, Kenosha, WI 53143; or
• Agrace Hospice, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI, 53711.