Caleb Sylvester Swanigan

CALEB SYLVESTER SWANIGAN passed away unexpectedly of natural causes on Monday, June 20, 2022. Caleb was born to Carl Swanigan Sr. and Tanya Swanigan in Indianapolis, Ind. on April 18, 1997.

After living in Salt Lake City as a child, he came to Fort Wayne in 2011 where he was adopted by Roosevelt Barnes Jr. and began to make Fort Wayne his home. Caleb was a graduate of Homestead High School where he was a standout basketball player, becoming a McDonald's All-American, a Parade All-American, the Gatorade Player of Year, and Indiana's prestigious Mr. Basketball. He was a member of USA Basketball, helping his teams win gold medals in the 2014 U17 and 2015 U19 championships.  Caleb continued his basketball pursuits while attending Purdue University. While playing for the Boilermakers, Caleb set many team and conference records and amassed numerous awards and accolades, including 2017 Big Ten Player of the Year, 2017 1st Team Consensus All-American, 2017 Pete Newell Award, 2017 Basketball Times National Player of the Year, 2017 Lute Olson Award and 2017 Academic All-American. Caleb entered the 2017 NBA Draft and was chosen in the first round by the Portland Trailblazers.

Caleb will be remembered as a caring friend, a loyal teammate, and a loving father. He is survived by his son, Caleb Jr. (CJ); his mother, Tanya Swanigan; his maternal grandmother, Martha Wilson; his siblings, Carl Swanigan Jr., Courtland Swanigan, Corey Swanigan, Candance Swanigan, Crystal Swanigan, and Valerie Swanigan; and his adopted father, Roosevelt Barnes Jr.; along with a host of other family members, loved ones, and fans.

Caleb was preceded in death by his father, Carl Swanigan Sr. 

Service is 11 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2022, at The Chapel, 2505 W. Hamilton Road S., Fort Wayne, IN 46814, with calling one hour prior.

Preferred memorials to Summit Church, 2320 Maumee Ave., Fort Wayne, IN 46803 or Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne, 2609 Fairfield Ave., Fort Wayne, IN 46807 or  Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, 404 E. Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46802.

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