Jack Swarts

JACK D. SWARTS

Independence

Jack D. Swarts, 93, of Independence, died Monday morning, Jan. 4, 2016, at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence.

Jack was born on Dec. 5, 1922, in Oelwein, Iowa, the son of Martin A. and Sara E. (Davis) Swarts. He was a 1941 graduate of Independence High School. On May 26, 1943, he entered the U.S. Army. While on leave on Nov. 26, 1943, he married Dorothy D. Wallis in the Otterville Presbyterian Church. Following his discharge on Oct. 14, 1945, he returned to Otterville and began farming with his parents. After being flooded out in 1947, Jack became employed with John Deere Co. in Waterloo for a year and a half before returning to farming on various rented farms for 13 years. He then worked for Hoffman Brother Construction for a short time, then returned to John Deere working there for 25 years before his retirement in 1983.

Jack enjoyed dancing, woodworking, fishing and traveling. He loved to spend time with his family and friends.

He is survived by four children, Doug (Cynthia) Swarts, Galesburg, Ill., Brian (Frances) Swarts, Independence, Wayne (Charlene) Swarts, Independence and Jane Swarts, Marion; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 72 years, Dorothy Swarts, on Sept. 1, 2015.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Reiff Funeral Home & Crematory, Independence, with the Rev. Scott Meador officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

To leave an online condolence, please go to www.reifffuneralhome.com under obituaries.