Rev. M. Thomas Swantner Obituary (1929 - 2012)

Rev. M. Thomas Swantner, 83, of Frankfort, Indiana, died Monday, December 17, 2012, at Wesley Manor Retirement Community in Frankfort. He was born October 20, 1929, in Peru, Indiana, the son of William J. and Lurah Long Swantner. On June 10, 1951, he married the former Vera Winger in Speedway; she survives. Tom graduated from Chili (Miami County) High School in 1947. He graduated from Manchester College in 1954 and from Butler Theological Seminary in Indianapolis in 1958. Tom served for 42 years as a minister under appointment with the United Methodist Church. He served for 6 years in Indiana and 36 years in Illinois, retiring in 1994 from Urbana First. In 2006, Tom and Vera moved to Frankfort. Tom was a member of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, past member of the Rotary Club of Frankfort and of Pana where he was also Assistant District Governor, and past member of the Masons, Shriners and Scottish Rite. He was twice a Paul Harris Fellow. He loved to travel and camp. In addition to his wife, Tom is survived by two daughters, Rebecca E. (Kim) Heusel of Indianapolis, IN and Laura F. (John) Johnson of Peoria, IL; one sister, Shirley (Charles) Guyer of Kokomo, IN; one brother, John J. Swantner (companion, Ellen Gross) of Chili, IN; three grandchildren, Aaron K. Heusel (Cara Owens), Robin D. (Natalie) Heusel, and Thomas G. Heusel (Lori Marshall); two great grandsons, Xander Heusel and Elijah Heusel. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, one son, David W. Swantner; one brother, George Swantner; one sister, Marilou Neff; and one half brother, William E. Swantner. Funeral Information A worship service celebrating his life will be held Saturday, January 5, 2013 in First United Methodist Church, Pana at 2:00 p.m. with The Reverend David Hultberg, The Reverend Walter Carlson, The Reverend Don Jackson, The Reverend Bob Freeman, The Reverend Allynn Walker, The Reverend Terry Harter, and The Reverend Randall Perry officiating. A time for food and fellowship will follow the services at the church.