Barton L. Swales

Barton L. Swales, 82, of Coal Valley, Illinois, passed from this life into eternal life late on the evening of June 12, 2015, at Hope Creek Care Center, East Moline, Illinois, with his loving family blessed to be by his side.

Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at Christ United Methodist Church, East Moline, with The Revs. Roger and Joye Perry officiating, Friends are invited to join the family at a funeral luncheon at the church immediately following the services. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Trimble Funeral Home, Coal Valley. Cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory, and private burial will be in Coal Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church or Hope Creek Activity Department.

Barton Lee Swales was born June 2, 1933, in Moline Illinois, to James Donald and Dorothy (Arnold) Swales, and he grew up and was educated in Moline.

Bart married Patricia Koch in June of 1952 and became a father of two. He married Kay Quante in November of 1966, and subsequently became the father of two more. He took great joy in his children and all his future grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bart worked for thirty years as a product designer at John Deere Plow and Planter works in Moline, retiring in 1985. The many following years were lived with gusto enjoying his retirement. He was a very active forty-four year member of Christ United Methodist Church in East Moline, where he gave of his time and carpentry talents freely, including many trips working on Habitat for Humanity homes. One of his greatest sources of joy was his church and his church family.

Bart had a zest for fun and lived his life likewise. Some of his many sources of pleasure were his woodworking shop (the beautiful pieces he gave to family and friends will be forever held dear), tennis (which he played until the age of eighty-one), get togethers with friends, fishing trips and road trips, and a nice big steak. He and Kay traveled extensively near and far including long winters in Florida for the past many, many years.

He is survived by his beloved wife Kay, and to be missed always by his four children and spouses, Julie and Jeff Moore of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Jim and Pam Swales of Center Point, Iowa, Deanna Hansen of Coal Valley, and Brian Swales of Palm Springs, California. In addition, he is survived by six grandchildren and spouses, Joshua Swales, Chris and Rachel Swales, Anne Swales and fiancé Brandon Odom, Daniel and Britny Swales, Jenna and Adam Reid, and Alex Moore, along with four great-grandchildren, Grace, Gabe and Josiah Swales and Caitlyn Reid. He leaves one sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Kenny Sitler of Moline and three nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother William Dale. In addition, Bart leaves friends too numerous to count and a lifetime of memories to be cherished always.

Bart's family invites friends to share stories and condolences and light a free candle in his memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.