Arnold Swanson

Arnold A. Swanson, of Silvis, died peacefully, surrounded by his children, on Dec. 28, 2014, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Sycamore Baptist Church in East Moline. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. today at Schroder Mortuary in Silvis. Burial will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sycamore Baptist Church.

Mr. Swanson was born on June 23, 1923, in Silvis, the son of Rueben and Hazel Freeland Swanson. He married Evelyn Jean O'Dell in April 1947, in Silvis. She died in 1993. He married Elizabeth Vetter in August 1998.

Mr. Swanson was a charter member of Sycamore Baptist Church in East Moline, where he served the Lord as a deacon for over 30 years. He also served several years on the Riverdale School Board in Port Byron. He loved being a farmer. He grew up on his father's dairy farm in Silvis, and continued farming the rest of his life. Arnold was employed at Ametek in East Moline and the Rock Island Arsenal and he retired from there in 1989. But Arnold's devotion to Christ surpassed all his earthly endeavors.

Mr. Swanson is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Vetter-Swanson; and his children and their spouses, Bruce and Jo Swanson, Henderson, Ky., Sally and Bruce Pemberton, Rolling Meadows, Ill., and Sue and Tom Phelps, Port Byron. Arnold was blessed with 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by stepchildren, Laurie Christenson and Jeff Vetter. He was preceded in death by a stepson, Allen Vetter.