The Gurnee Days Corporation is pleased to announce Barbara J. Swanson has been chosen as the Gurnee Days Honoree for 2011. For over 35 years, the Gurnee Days Corporation has selected a deserving individual or couple to be honored during the annual Gurnee Days celebration. The testimonial dinner honoring Barbara will be held on Thursday, August 11 and traditionally kicks off the annual Gurnee Days festivities.
 

 

Barbara Swanson is the daughter of Howard and Joyce Swanson and a lifelong Gurnee resident. She graduated from Gurnee Grade School and Warren Township High School. After graduating from Eastern Illinois University with high honors, she taught Home Economics and Consumer Education at Woodstock High School. At Woodstock High School, she was known for her interesting and challenging assignments.

 

In 1980, Barbara entered Chicago-Kent College of Law and graduated with high honors and passed the bar in 1983. This was the same year she had her first child, Janelle and daughters Jamie and Jorie followed. Since marrying York Chan in 2007, Barbara has a large extended family of three stepchildren, Teri, Kevin and Casey, and a new grandchild, Donovan.

 

When the children were young, Barbara spent countless hours volunteering for the children’s activities. Whether it was a field trip, room party, band event or sports event, Barbara was always there to help. One thing everyone knows about Barbara is that she never comes to an event empty-handed and is nicknamed “cookie mom.”

 

After Law School, Barbara was a Law Clerk with the Illinois Appellate Court. Ultimately, she chose to be an attorney in private practice in her hometown of Gurnee and is very well respected by the judiciary and her colleagues. She is active in the Illinois State Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association and Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association and volunteers as a court appointed Guardian Ad Litem in disabled adult guardianships.

 

For over 10 years, Barbara followed in her father’s footsteps as the Village of Gurnee Attorney. She was required to attend board, subcommittee and commission meetings. Her duties included not only counseling the village board on legal issues but also drafting ordinances and rendering legal opinions. Barbara has served as a volunteer on the Gurnee Civil Service Commission which is responsible for interviewing and testing village employees and holding discharge hearings. Appointed by Mayor Kovarik, Barbara is a Village of Gurnee Ethics Commissioner that review ethics and diversity issues for the village.

 

As a volunteer for numerous organizations, Barbara has been helping people all her life. She and her family are very active members of Gurnee Community Church spending numerous hours on church activities including the Women’s Christian Fellowship and Mission Trip fundraisers. Every Thanksgiving, Barbara spends the day serving food to local sailors from the Great Lakes Navy Base.

 

Since 1991, Barbara has been a member and director of the Exchange Club of Gurnee. She received the Book of Golden Deeds in 1997 and was named Exchangite of the Year last year. Barbara is also involved with the Gurnee Women’s Business Association, Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Village of Gurnee Chamber of Commerce and the NorthSide Community Bank Advisory Board.

 

Even as a breast cancer survivor, Barbara never thinks of herself. She has served as a Relay for Life committee member and participates in the annual Gurnee/Wadsworth Relay for Life and raises money for others with cancer.

 

Barbara has been a great volunteer, active in business and a very positive influence in Gurnee and Lake County. She has been a leader and champion in everything she does. Her many accomplishments have greatly benefited the Village of Gurnee and all of its citizens. As her daughter, Janelle Rominski recently said “My Mom eats, breathes and lives Gurnee…she has Gurnee in her blood.”

 

Each year, the Gurnee Days Corporation seeks nominations from the community for people who have made a meaningful contribution for over 10 years. Gurnee Days Corporation is pleased to have such a devoted person as Barbara Swanson as the 2011 Gurnee Days Honoree and Parade Marshal of the annual Gurnee Days parade. For more information on Gurnee Days, check their website at www.gurnee.il.us/gurnee_days.