Shawn Wishinsky
Shawn Wishinsky (Swedberg) left our world for her new journey into the next on November 1st, 2015 in Watford City, ND. Shawn was born March 6, 1979 in Fargo, ND to Rod and Kathy Swedberg.
Shawn had overcome many obstacles beginning at 6 weeks of age having been born with a congenital heart defect. At age 2 she survived open heart surgery and doubled in size and energy. She always felt her time on this earth may be limited so she lived her life as if every day were her last. She graduated high school in Kindred, ND enjoying and excelling in extracurricular activities such as volleyball, shot put, and choir.
She worked a variety of customer service positions but her favorite job in the world was raising her boys. This goofy girl will be painfully missed by her children, who would tell anyone she was a beautiful, amazing person and was the absolute best at being a mother.
Shawn married her high school sweetheart Eric Sax in 1998 and shortly thereafter they began their life as a military family. They were blessed with their sons, Kaine and Drake. They resided in Alaska for several years then moved to Idaho. They later divorced. April 20th 2013 she married Tony Wishinsky making their home in West Fargo. They recently moved to Watford City, ND following their dream of owning their own restaurant.
Her legacy will continue through her family and friends and she will never be forgotten. After all, it’s hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember.
Shawn is survived by her Husband Tony; sons: Kaine and Drake Sax; sisters: Shelia (Travis) Hicks; Rachel (Wayne) Jensen; Becky (Paul) Coste; her mother, Kathy (Dennis) Swedberg); grandmother: Lorraine Borah; nieces: Destiny (Derek) Hicks; MacKenzie Hicks; great niece: Autumn Rotenberger; and many aunts uncles and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her father, Rodney Swedberg; grandparents: Joyce Swedberg; Roy and Carol Swedberg; and Glen Borah; uncle, Chad Swedberg; cousin, Jerrid Swedberg
Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, with a prayer service at 4:00 on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center, Fargo. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM, Sunday, November 9, 2015 at Boulger Funeral Home.
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To the family of Shawn:
We are so sorry for your loss.
Shawn went to school with our kids….Josh, Samantha, Kari & Donald.
She spent a lot of time with the girls….and was Don’s protector from the bullies. We loved her as our own. Rest in Peace Miss Shawna.
Love you to the moon & back!
The Clarke’s
Bob & Leaha
Its so hard to believe you are gone. I have so many memories of you and all the crazy times we had. Like the time when we got to leave school to go sand bag but instead we dressed up in my mom’s old bridesmaid dresses and took pix on the front porch only to have Kevin Wallevand pull in the driveway with the news truck. Yep, that was embarrassing. And of course our many nights hanging out at billiards. You had the biggest heart and alway willing to help a friend out. I’m going to miss that loud laugh of yours and that smile you always seemed to have. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and friends. You will be missed my friend. Love and miss you Shawna!
Jen Cossette
Rachel & family, so sorry, to hear about your sister, my hearts crying for the family. God’s Blessings, you are all in our prayers!
The Wishinsky’s were the first family I had when I moved to Watford city! I was scared of Shawn at first untill I got to knw her, and I am so glad I did she was one of the sweetest kindest nd of course craziest ppl I have gotten the privilege to meet! You will be missed by They Reyes family nd always in out hearts! Thank u for making us feel like part of the family! Love you Mamas!
What can i say about this beautiful woman who i called a true friend. Her “this is me, take me or leave me”, if you get what im stepping in. I will forever love and say your name with a smile. Tony and the boys i am sooo very sorry for the way you are feeling, if i could take them away i would. Need me? Facebook me. I love u all and i wish i could be there.
Sending you allll my love
Ashley
Shawn you are an amazing mother and friend i love you very much you will be truly missed
From the moment I first met Shawn when she was about 10 or 11, I knew she was a force to be reckoned with. If she had health issues, you never knew it because she was so full of life. She will not physically be here, but she will always have a place in my heart and memories. Thank you Shawn for being in our lives.
Shawn, you came to our wedding before you were born, that’s how long I’ve known you. I’ve watched you grow, and have celebrated life’s milestones with you. You were well-loved by so many and will leave an emptiness in the hearts of so many. Condolences to your Mama, and sister, hubby, and sons, ao many relatives, and thousands of close friends. I know how you loved your family and friends, and they are all going to miss the way you brightened any room you graced. We all gained one heck of a guardian angel, look after us God-daughter, gone far too soon. Much love, Jeff & Becky Nordquist
It’s so hard to still wrap my head around that you’re no longer with us here. I’ve been drifting back to high school memories this past week and remembering your laugh, that devilish smile of yours or hearing a big burp from the back of the classroom! Haha that always cracked me up. 🙂 We had some good times back then. I could always count on you to bring a smile to my face and plenty of laughter. I remember how we both really liked the cartoon character Marvin the Martian and you got that tattoo! Just a small, random memory, but the small things can mean a lot. I hope you are at peace and that you are spicing things up at the after party! Miss you. <3
Your personality was a beam of Sunshine. Getting to know you from some of the places you worked at in West Fargo, it was clear that you were definitely devoted in caring for people. It’s hard to beleive you have passed. Would of been nice to say hello and catch up one last time. You will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace Shawna. May God’s love and peace be with your family.
Nicole from Phoenix Arizona , I am not able to attend Shawns service , Shawn you were always a fun-loving beautiful
Girl. I can only imagine what an amazing woman and Mother u had been! Go fly with the angels girls and will see u again sometime . My thought and prayers are with tall of Shawns family and friends !
Shawn was a wonderful mom and friend. She will be sorely missed. We became friends with first week she was in Idaho and have remained so. I remember when she was potty training the boys and going crazy! She was always a bright light no matter what the situation was.
I was lucky enough to meet Shawn in the fall of 1999. She would come into The Bismarck Tavern when it was still owned by Chuck (the good guy) and sing karaoke, with Sheila and by herself. It was as if the whole place livened up the minute she walked into the place. She was fun, she never bit her tongue. You knew just what was on her mind and if your heart was in the right place…you didn’t mind. Shawn didn’t pull any punches. She was boisterous, fun loving and full of life. So much full of life like she had to spend it all early. I am so sorry to see you go. I was really hoping we could be annoying old ladies together. Cya in heaven Shawn. P.S. Keep bugging on your sister…she still needs to know that it’s okay where you are.
Love, Tammy
I am so sorry for your loss. Shawn will be missed. She touched so many people.
Much love, prayers and support to the boys, husband, and family during this time. I had the pleasure of meeting Shawn thru Marlon and I gained a life friend. We called each other and she used to sing me to sleep some nights over the phone. I never got to meet her in person…. But I met her soul. She was beautiful, funny and the most true friend you can find. I will miss her so much. No one will ever replace the spot in my heart for her. I already miss her laugh and presence.
Much love
Mandy
So sorry for your loss, but Heavens choir has gain a beautiful voice. May peace go with each of you.
I remember Shawn and her sister in youth group at church while they were growing up. Kathy and family I am so very sorry for your loss. My prayers and thoughts with you now and the days to come.
May God bless your family during this difficult time.
Kathy and Family….SO sorry to hear about Shawn. She sure was an amazing lady…always smiling!! She will be missed 🙁 BIG hugs to all!
MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU–SORRY OUT OF TOWN
So sorry to hear of the loss of your beautiful, sister Rachel, I can see she was a beautiful, loving , wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. May you and your family find peace and understanding, during this difficult time. God bless her soul, God bless you all.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Shawn was one of my dearest high school friends. She was always happy and full of life. She was not afraid to be who she is and would always be there for anyone who needed her or her bold advice. She will be missed and never forgotten.
I want to start out by giving my condolences to Shawn’s entire family, especially her boys, your mom was an exceptional woman, person, and most importantly friend. I have known Shawn since we were kids growing up in Mapleton. She was one of the most fun loving, brutally honest people I know, I think that’s what I loved & respected about her the most, quick to make you laugh or put you in your place if you had it coming but at the end of the day you knew where you stood with her. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that she is gone too soon. Kaine & Drake, I want you to know that in time it will get easier, I was in your shoes 7 years ago. Hold tight to her memory, her love, and her wisdom. She gave you the stepping stones to go down the road of life, she will always be with you boys. Hold tight to your family & may God heal your hearts in time. My thoughts & prayers are with you.
Didn’t know you as well as some others but what I did know was enough to last a lifetime. You will forever live on in my heart as one of the greatest karaoke singers I have ever heard and who could light up a room with her voice. Forever in our hearts.
I just found out about the loss of Shawn. I am so sorry to her family on their great loss. I was a friend of Shawn’s sister, Sheila. Shawn was a sweet person and my most fun memory of her was when Sheila would have sleep overs and there would be a bunch of 14yr old girls dancing and lip-synching to Madonna and Cindy Lauper. Shawn would sing and dance she was 8-9 yrs old and wasn’t shy about getting right in there with us.
Shawn my darling I feel as if my soul has been ripped from my chest.I will always love you more than fresh meat loves salt(from the English fairytale “cap o rushes”) .It was our favorite tale I was to nervous to share it with the rest of the world on our wedding day. I will forever miss you and can only pray that I will once again be good enough to stand next to you in heaven.thanks for picking me!
SHAWN-O-MAC!!! This is such a hard news to believe. – 2 years ago?
I’m from Alaska. We met at Lowe’s Hardware orientation in 2001. Later she invited us to her place. Met Eric and we also had dinner. She made her lasagna and was nervous hoping we’d like it. Loved it!! Then Kaine-o-mac was born and my son was born: 2001…. we had visited each other, have babies play on the floor. Soon both were toddlers then Drake came around. We babysat the boys and took very care of them like they were mine. Then soon the news came, they were leaving Alaska, sad day and I always promised to go and visit her. She came to our place a couple years later to surprise us. It was unbelievable to open my door and see you (always) with your huge smile. Shawn-o-mac was my very good friend and done almost anything in anchorage. She loved kareoke and have a beautiful voice. Just recently, in August, I went to Minneapolis Minnesota for my first cousins wedding and I frantically tried so hard to reach her because I wanted to drive up to see her. I love you Kaine-o-mac and Drake. I’m sorry for your both loss of your Mom. Condolences to her immediate family, relatives and friends. I love you Shawn-o and now look forward to meeting you again someday. Oh how I wish to hear your singing now. I love you always. She picked up a short cut to: what you doing “what you” from us. She would start asking us the same: “what you” Love you!! Hard to say bye so it is until then for now.