Jeff met his wife Mary Kay in 1980 at Southern Oregon State College (now Southern Oregon University), where he received a swimming scholarship and earned two degrees: one in Chemistry and one in business. After Jeff and Mary Kay married in 1982, he began his career at the Medite Corporation in Medford, Oregon. Jeff retired from Bakelite Synthetics in 2024 as Senior Manager of Product Stewardship. Jeff lived all over the country, notably Tillamook, Oregon, where he graduated from High School (1980); Ashland, OR, where all of his children were born; Las Vegas, NM; Goshen, KY; & Shelbyville, KY.

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He loved to see the world, traveling for work and pleasure, including: waterfalls in Brazil, his son’s college football game in London, his son studying abroad in Germany, national parks, and hiking state high points with his sons. Family was very important to him, so much so that he eagerly embarked on cross-country road trips for reunions and holiday visits.

 

Jeff was a man of deep faith and a long-time member of the Nazarene Church, especially Ashland Church of the Nazarene in Oregon; South Oldham Church of the Nazarene in Kentucky; and River City Hope Church in Kentucky. He was a committed leader with a servant’s heart, serving as treasurer, audio/visual technician, adult Sunday school teacher, children’s bible quizzing instructor, and so many other things behind the scenes. He practiced a faith that was looking outward to help others, from a mission trip in Tanzania to providing groceries monthly for the Louisville community.

 

Jeff proudly passed on his life-long love of the Oregon Ducks to his sons (quack!), taking them to football games and a sweet sixteen basketball game. He showed up to support his grandchildren, whom he adored (and chauffeured gladly), attending birthday parties, dance recitals, soccer games, musicals, and swim lessons.

 

He will be missed by many, and is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Mary Kay Swartzentruber; his father, Robert “Bob” Swartzentruber (Faye); his brothers Greg (Debbie) Swartzentruber, Brad (Tanya) Swartzentruber, and Brent Swartzentruber; two sons Michael and Phillip (Shannon) Swartzentruber; and five precious grandchildren, Bailey, Liam, Haley, Caleb, and Logan.

 

A memorial service is planned for Sat., Dec. 6, 2025, 11 AM at River City Hope Church of the Nazarene, 12320 Ridgemont Road, Louisville, KY 40229.

 

The memorial service will be live-streamed on the church’s social media accounts:
River City Hope Church | Youtube
River City Hope Church | Facebook

 

Donations to establish an Endowment Fund at River City Hope Church would be greatly appreciated. Your contribution to the Jeff Swartzentruber Endowment Fund can be sent to River City Hope Church by check or online gift with a memo / description reading: “Endowment Fund.”
 

Mail To: River City Hope Church, 12320 Ridgemont Road, Louisville, KY 40229.
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