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11/08/15 10:34 AM

#219

Milan Jackson (Class Of '63)

5 hours ago

BLOOMINGTON — Delmar Lee "Del" Swearingen, 83, of McKinney, Texas, passed away at 11:13 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 4, 2015) at Villagio Memory Care, McKinney, Texas, due to Alzheimer's. He was born Nov. 20, 1931, in Bloomington, son of John Harold Swearingen and Effie Reed Swearingen.

Del attended Bloomington and McLean schools as well as earning both bachelor's (1953) and master's (1956) degrees from Illinois State Normal University. He coached at Delavan and Bloomington high schools. He was a principal at Danvers and Olympia high schools, as well as Towanda and Glenn elementary schools, retiring in 1987.

Del was honored in the Illinois State Redbird Athletic Hall of Fame, the Olympia High School Activities Hall of Fame, and the Bloomington-Normal Officials Association Hall of Fame. He managed the State Farm Insurance Recreation Park for 40 years, retiring in 1994.

He served his country proudly in the U.S. Army, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where he was assigned to the Special Services Athletic Team, excelling in shot put, discus, hammer throw, javelin and relays. He was recognized by receiving numerous All Army and 5th Army awards.

Del is survived by his wife, Olive Huffman Swearingen, and sister, Ann Garner, Prescott, Ariz. He was a beloved father to Kurt (Polly) Swearingen, Normal; Timothy (Cheryl) Swearingen, McKinney, Texas; Kathryn (Kim) Swearingen Johnson, Bloomington; Kim (Brad) Bielfeldt McPeak, McKinney, Texas; Lisa (T.H.) Bielfeldt Haltom, McKinney, Texas; David (Evie) Bielfeldt, Plano, Texas; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He will be missed by his loyal dog, Justice.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Sue Campton; sister, Laura Lou Fabert; and brother, Harold Reed Swearingen.

His service will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5871 Virginia Parkway, McKinney, TX 75071, with the Rev. Dr. Patrick McCoy presiding. Memorials may be made to North Collin County Habitat for Humanity, 2060 Couch Drive, McKinney, TX 75069, Trinity Presbyterian Church, or Illinois State University Foundation in care of the Weisbecker Scholarship Fund, PO Box 8000, Normal, IL 61761.

A celebration of life service will be at 3 p.m. Nov. 21 at the First Presbyterian Church, 2000 E. College Ave., Normal, Ill.

11/08/15 10:55 AM

#220

Patsy Whitecotton (Barggren)

Thanks Milan, I was trying to transfer the obit. but couldn't. Glad you did.

11/10/15 05:49 PM

#221

Milan Jackson (Class Of '63)

I have heard from many who feels Del Swearingen made a mark on their lives. His daughter, Kathy, would love to hear any of our Del stories. Feel free to write to her at kcpjohns@comcast.net

12/31/15 10:53 PM

#222

Milan Jackson (Class Of '63)

01/01/16 10:52 AM

#223

Dale L Prosser

HAPPY NEW TEAR TO EVERYONE

01/01/16 12:07 PM

#224

Patsy Whitecotton (Barggren)

May all my friends and former classmates have a HAPPY, HEALTHY, WEALTHY and WISE 2016 with plenty of TIME to enjoy it all in a world of PEACEFUL existence filled with beauty and a few fun surprises for good measure. Love, Joy & Kindness to All, Patsy

04/01/16 10:36 PM

#225

Milan Jackson (Class Of '63)

Mary Selk turns 95 on April 29, 2016. On April 30, she wants to have singers from A Cappella to come to Westminster Village and sing for the residents. John Waddell, a great singer from Bloomington, will be singing with us. If you don't know who John is, Google him. He is awesome. Rehearsal will be at 1:30pm and performance will be at 3pm. If you can make it, please let me know. We love that lady and this is a good chance to let her know what she meant to us.

Milan Jackson

1104 George Dr.

Normal, IL 61761

milan52@yahoo.com

309-452-7987

05/01/16 10:49 PM

#226

Milan Jackson (Class Of '63)

Part 2

05/01/16 10:51 PM

#227

Milan Jackson (Class Of '63)

Part 1

05/02/16 02:03 PM

#228

Phyllis Wolff (Banucci)

Thanks for posting this. What a trip down memory lane.

Wonderful! I remember Jackie singing Old Man River so well - in the city-wide production of "ShowBoat" and at our concerts. Miss Selk looks and acts just like I remember her.

11/16/16 06:36 PM

#229

Milan Jackson (Class Of '63)

I am trying to put a collection together of us kids on a pony in the early 50's. A man traveling through the Twin Cities had a pony and would take kids pictures sitting on that pony. The man had some costume articles to make us look more like cowboys and cowgirls. Do any of you still have your picture from that time? If so, I would love to get a copy of it. Here was mine:

11/17/16 06:41 PM

#230

Patsy Whitecotton (Barggren)

You are adorable but we must have missed that because nobody in my family has a pony picture.

11/17/16 07:07 PM

#231

Sheila Hepworth

I have a pony picture but it is in Flordia.....maybe I can get a copy. I am holding my little brother .

Sheila Hepworth

11/24/16 04:20 PM

#232

Milan Jackson (Class Of '63)

Happy Thanksgiving to the Class of 1961.

12/15/16 06:21 PM

#233

Milan Jackson (Class Of '63)

I need help from BHS classmates. On or near the corner of W. Washington and Morris Ave was a restaurant that had pictures of former boxers on their walls. We can't figure out if it was John and Gene's or the Hickory Pit. Does anyone know?

12/16/16 10:38 AM

#234

Trudy Brueggeman (Wollenschlager)

I think it was the Hickory Pit

Trudy Brueggeman

12/24/16 10:19 PM

#235

Milan Jackson (Class Of '63)

Merry Christmas Class of 1961 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12/25/16 01:10 PM

#236

Patsy Whitecotton (Barggren)

Beautiful, Milan. You are always so thoughtful. A very Merry Christmas to you and all our classmates from both years, yours and mine. Patsy

02/02/17 03:12 PM

#237

Patsy Whitecotton (Barggren)

This is a cute story I thought some you might be interested in, as to how Yvonne Johannes and I unwittingly took part in a bit of America history, especially since the movie The Founder is currently in the movie theatre. In the summer of 1959 one day a big black limousine stopped in first of Yvonne's house, next door to me on West Chestnut St., in those days we only saw limousines in the movies so it was quite a big deal. Yvonne's dad was a rural school teacher, a lay minister and a wonderful cook. Somehow he heard about this new chain of restaurants spreading across the USA. He had contacted a man in Chicago regarding the new business and it was Mr. Koch who showed up in his chauffeured limousine to speak with Mr. Johannes. Mr Koch was very nice and realizing the interest we two teenaged girls showed in his transportation he invited us along on the sales pitch and to the location already picked for the first McDonald's in Bloomington/Normal. After the viewing of the spot on Main St. we all went back to Yvonne's house where Mr. Koch and Mr. Johannes went in to discuss the details. Before going in Mr. Koch turned to Yvonne and I and asked "would you girls like my driver to take you anywhere while we're busy"? Of course we were thrilled at the opportunity and asked to be driven to the Miller Park Pavilon, where everyone hung out in those days. When the car arrived and parked in front on the building it completely emptied out to see who could be in Bloomington in a chauffeur driven car. The uniformed driver waited until the crowd was assembled before getting out to open the door for Yvonne and I to emerge. I'm sure everyone was disappointed it wasn't celebrities but we certainly felt like stars for the day thanks to Mr. Koch.

02/03/17 11:08 AM

#238

Phyllis Wolff (Banucci)

Love this story! A bunch of retired McDonald's execs from the Chicago headquarters live near us (I play bridge and golf with some of the spouses), and I passed your story on! Warm regards, Phyllis Wolff Banucci

02/04/17 12:11 PM

#239

Patsy Whitecotton (Barggren)

Phyills, Thanks for sharing the story. I hope they enjoyed hearing how kind their founder was to a couple of teenage girls. Nice to hear from you.

03/14/17 11:07 PM

#240

Jeffrey Carnahan

BHS surges to first state berth in 42 years

Purple Raiders defense hounds Marengo in super-sectional win

DEKALB — Colton Sandage stepped onto the Convocation Center floor to begin the fourth quarter Tuesday with six steals and six missed 3-point shots in as many attempts.

When Sandage's 3-pointer from the left wing swished through the net just 26 seconds later, the Bloomington High School junior thrust out a fist pump of both celebration and relief.

The Purple Raiders' offense may have been a bit tardy arriving at the Class 3A Northern Illinois Super-Sectional, but the BHS defense was on time and on task from the beginning.

A whopping 20 Raiders' steals paved the way for 26 Marengo turnovers as BHS earned its first State Tournament berth since 1975 with a 69-46 victory.

"It shows where we've come from. It's hard. It was humbling being 3-26," Raiders coach Micheal Mosley said. "It's really humbling we could bring this program from where we were five, six years ago to the point where we have a chance to win a state championship."

03/14/17 11:35 PM

#241

Sheila Hepworth

Thank you Jeff!

05/13/17 01:32 PM

#242

Milan Jackson (Class Of '63)

BLOOMINGTON — James E. Clancy, 73, of Bloomington, passed away at 12:10 a.m. Monday (May 8, 2017) at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

His funeral will be at noon Saturday at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington. Burial will be in Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cardiac Rehab Unit at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center or a charity of the donor’s choice.

He was born May 26, 1943, in Schenectady, N.Y., the son of Edward and Evelyn Greene Clancy. He married Mildred Squires Epley on Sept. 3, 1974, in Bloomington. She preceded him in death on June 3, 1984.

Surviving are a cousin, Robert Dewey, Corinth, N.Y.; and many friends who became his family, including Edward Fey and his children, Barry Fey and his daughter Sophia; Nathan Fey; and Kristin (Brian) Smith and their daughter, Courtney. His “adopted” family also included Christie (Ken) Pacha; Jane Sweeney (Roger) Lander and their children, Emily Crawford, Alec Lander and Nora Kate Lander; and Lyndsey “Button” Raycraft. Also surviving are his stepchildren, Richard Epley, Edward Epley and Rebecca Johnson; a sister-in-law, Mary Botkin; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and his lifelong friend, John Sweeney.

Jim graduated from Bloomington High School and attended Illinois State University. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 32 years of employment. Jim and his friend, John Sweeney, enjoyed traveling to many St. Louis Cardinals games over the years and journeyed together to the Kentucky Derby for 15 years. He also spent many miles on the road with his friend Ed Fey. Jim was an avid billiards fan.

A man with a wide circle of dear friends, Clancy will be missed by many.

To express condolences, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.

06/09/17 07:59 PM

#243

Sonja Jones (Davis)

Thank you for allowing me to become a guest member of the Class of '61.....I remember so many of you and it's a real joy to catch up to an extent in your lives.

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