Obituary of Leon Swigart

Sadly, we announce that in the late evening of Sunday, October 15th 2023, the Reverend Jay Leon Swigart went to be with the Lord, Jesus, his wife Susie, and his other heavenly family. He was born on April 9th 1942 to George Mitchell and Leona Louise (Aurand) Swigart at his grandmother's house in McVeytown, Pennsylvania. After graduating high school, Leon went to McPherson college, earning a degree in philosophy and religion. He then went on to Elizabethtown College and Bethany Seminary where he earned the title of Reverend. Leon married the love of his life Susie (Leona Stains) on June 23rd 1963 at the Burnham Pennsylvania Church of the Brethren. He served the Lord for 50 years with his ministry to numerous churches and was a youth group leader for many of his earlier years. He was also the chaplain at the Pleasant Hill Nursing Home in Girard, Illinois for many years. He truly loved being with the residents back then and even "ministered" to other residents when he himself was a temporary resident at nursing homes in Missouri. In his spare time, Leon loved to grow gardens, coach and umpire little league teams, serve as a substitute teacher in Illinois, participate in league bowling, sing in the church choir, and go fishing. For as long as any of us can remember, Leon spent every summer at his current church camp as a camp counselor and as a camper by attending men's camp. He later served as the Dean of Camp Emanuel in Astoria, Illinois. Leon was so devoted to this camp that every summer, he was at camp over the week of his wedding anniversary. It was a sacrifice that he and Susie made, without question, every year! Leon was preceded in death by his parents and his wife on May 28, 2022. Leon is survived by his daughter, Suzanne (Jesse) Tichinel of Middleburg, FL, daughter, Laura (Daryl) Wiles of Seymour, MO, daughter, Carolyn (Matthew) Wetter of Festus, MO, daughter, Janine Cuddy of Hillsboro, MO, 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, sister, Miriam (Jerry) Wachob of Ephrata, PA, brother, Harold (Nancy) Swigart of McClure, PA, sister, Jane (Don) Wagner of Providence, PA, several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 20, 2023, 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Girard, IL. Funeral Services will be conducted at 10:00 am, Saturday, October 21, 2023 at the Virden Church of the Brethren with Rev. Mike Eisenhauer officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Girard. Memorials may be made to Camp Emmanuel Astoria, Illinois. Please visit www.davisandersonfuneralhome.com to leave condolences or light a candle in his memory. Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Girard is in charge of arrangements.