Harlow ‘Bud’ Swartout Jr.

Harlow “Bud” Swartout, 90, Geneseo, formerly of Woodstock, died Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, Iowa. He was 90 years old.

He was born Oct. 28, 1927, to Harlow Jerry Swartout Sr. and Florence (Hawkins) Swartout in Galesburg.

He graduated from Galesburg High School and went on to attend Drake University before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.  Upon his return, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Illinois State University. He married JoAnn Sterling in 1951 and began his teaching and coaching career in Fisher, eventually moving to Woodstock,  where he taught and coached until his retirement in 1993.

Survivors include his children, Jerry (Elaine) Swartout, Hamilton, Mont., and Nancy (Bernie) Lawson, Geneseo; seven grandchildren, Luke (Tori) Swartout and Ben Swartout, Missoula, Mont., Aaron (Janelle) Lawson, Rock Island, Kendra (Hector) Escobedo, Glendora, Calif., Sarah (Paul) Lams and Rachel Lawson, Geneseo, and Ethan Lawson, Breckenridge, Colo.; and two great-grandchildren, Amanda and Damien Escobedo.

He was preceded in death by his twin sisters, Bea Gresty and Betty Larsen; another sister, Carolyn Sandstrom; his wife; and his parents.

A celebration of life gathering will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in the Woodstock High School commons with a chance to share a special memory at 2 p.m. Visitors should enter from the west, door 11. A private burial is scheduled for a later date.

Memorials can be made to the Bud Swartout Scholarship fund, which honors a WHS Blue Streak student/athlete each year.  Memorials can be mailed to:  District 200 Education Foundation, Attn: treasurer, P.O. Box 172, Woodstock, IL 60098.