Jody W. Swinehart

Jody Williams Swinehart, age 54, passed away unexpectedly on April 14th, 2025. Jody was born December 26th, 1970, in Milwaukee to Lester and Cheryl Williams, who are now from Antigo. Jody graduated from Antigo High School in 1989 and then onto the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a student preparing for the health care field and as an athlete on the cross-country and track team, graduating with a Biological Sciences degree in 1994.

In addition to her husband, Craig, Jody is survived by their two sons, Alec, a student at UW-Madison, and Kyle, a student at UW-Milwaukee; her parents, Lester and Cheryl Williams of Antigo; Craig’s parents Tom and Sharon Swinehart of Spring Green; her three siblings, Michelle (Mike) Umland of Merrill, Scott (Kris) Williams of Mattoon, and Suzanne (Ralph) Balde of Spokane, WA; her brother-in-law Brian (Angela) Swinehart of East Troy and sister-in-law Andrea (Shawn) Molenaar of Andover, MN, along with many nieces, nephews, and great-nephews and dear friends throughout Wisconsin.

It was at UW-Madison where, out celebrating a friend’s birthday, she met her future husband, Craig Swinehart, in a classic story of love at first sight. Engaged at the stroke of midnight ringing in 1996, they married on May 31st, 1997, and began their adventures in the Stevens Point area and later established roots in Hartland. Before starting their family, Jody attended Marquette University’s Physician Assistant program, graduating with her Master’s degree in May 2000. Their love for their two boys has been a defining and joyful part of their lives.

Jody had 17 years of combined experience in family medicine, women’s health, and occupational health. She was recognized for compassion, strong clinical skills, leadership, organization, and adaptability.

Jody was an extraordinary person—dedicated, compassionate, and incredibly driven. Her ability to blend her professional life with her passion for health and community engagement is genuinely inspiring. Organizing events for her boys and the wider community shows how deeply she cared about making a positive impact. Running the Boston Marathon highlights her exceptional dedication and endurance. It is a feat that many runners aspire to, but only the truly committed achieve.

Running was an essential part of Jody’s life. Susie, a good friend of Jody’s, wrote this about her: “Funny story about Jody… the first time I met her was around 2007 at a neighborhood party; she told me she was a runner. We competed in our first race together, maybe a few months later. To my amazement, the gun went off, and she was gone. I was never able to catch her, and that was the last time I judged a sweet, innocent face as a non-serious runner! That race motivated me to work harder and run faster, and it sparked an immediate connection with Jody.”

“Running was one of the passions we shared. We ran together, raced together, and pushed one another. She was my biggest competition and one of my closest friends. We used our time on the roads to catch up on life and advise each other on various things. Jody was proud of her accomplishments. A walk-on runner at Madison who crushed the mile. A tenacious work ethic that carried over into everything she did. Jody will be so very missed. She was a special friend, and I am grateful for the memories I shared with her.”

Jody enjoyed skiing because it brought her family together. Skiing was a joy she wholeheartedly shared with Craig and their boys. Watching Alec and Kyle ski race brought her immense pride; she was their biggest fan, smiling, encouraging, and clanging cowbells. With unwavering support, Jody was always eager to volunteer at their races, which was just one of the ways that she could be closer to her boys. Jody’s enthusiasm extended beyond family as she cherished fun-filled days on the mountain and beyond with their friends, creating unforgettable memories. She belonged to a community, a family of ski enthusiasts ~ Jody, may you forever be skiing down the whitest mountain of glory, knowing how much you are loved. You will be deeply missed.

Jody’s story is a beautiful reminder of the power of kindness and determination. Jody will always be remembered for making you feel like the only person in the room. She genuinely cared—asking about your family, work, school, and passions. From the moment you met her, she made you feel like family.

Service will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at St. Charles Catholic Church, 313 Circle Drive, Hartland, Wisconsin, at 1:00 PM. Celebration of Life immediately following the service at the Chenequa Country Club, 6250 WI-83, Hartland, Wisconsin.

Below you will find a link created in Jody’s memory to honor the love she gave so freely to support suicide prevention and mental health awareness through a donation to NAMI Wisconsin. We miss her deeply and will continue to honor her life with love, purpose, and hope. Thank you for your kindness, your support, and for helping us keep Jody’s spirit alive.

https://doityourway.nami.org/campaign/Jody-Swinehart