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Memorial Service:
Emden Community House on June 15, 2019, 2 p.m. to 4
p.m.
Obituary
John H. Swart, 82, of San Antonio, FL
went to be with the Lord on May 1, 2019.
John was born on March 1, 1937, in Lincoln,
Illinois, to the late Harm Gerhart and Grace Mammen
Swart. John and his wife, Donna, moved to San
Antonio in 1968. John graduated from Hartsburg-Emden
High School, Lincoln College and Illinois State
University.
While attending school, John was a great basketball
player achieving many awards. At his high school,
John held the career scoring record for 57 years.
While attending Lincoln College, John was ranked in
top 20 scorers in the nation, lettered in basketball
and baseball, member of the honor society and was
honored as the student most representing ideas of
Abraham Lincoln.
At Illinois State University, he also lettered in
basketball and baseball, was an Academic All-Star
Award winner, and held the Single Game Rebound
record. John’s career started as a teacher at
Niantic-Harristown High School as a teacher and head
basketball coach from 1962-1964 where he then moved
back to Lincoln to teach and become the head
basketball coach at Lincoln College from 1964-1968.
In August of 1968, San Antonio became his permanent
residence as he became a professor of Physical
Education and Sports Management at St. Leo College.
He also became Assistant Athletic Director,
Assistant Men’s Basketball coach, Junior Varsity
Baseball coach, Head Men’s Soccer coach, Head
Women’s Basketball coach, NCAA Compliance Officer
and Director of Intramurals Department. John was a
professor at St. Leo College for 40 years and
continued as a adjunct professor for three more
years. He was the first coordinator of the Physical
Education Major and Designed Concepts of Wellness
Programs at St. Leo. He was also the President of
Florida Intercollegiate Soccer Coaches Association
and the Chair of the Sunshine State Conference
Women’s Basketball Coaches Committee.
John holds three Hall of Fame titles from all three
colleges, two for basketball from Lincoln College
and Illinois State University, and one for coaching
from St. Leo College. John retired from St. Leo
College in 2008. He was an active member of the
First United Methodist Church in Dade City. |
John’s parents preceded him in death along
with his son, Russell Gerhart Swart, and one brother-in-law
Larry Yentes.
His wife, Donna E. Swart, survives him along with his
daughter Dionne Swart Yargus, two grandchildren, Payton
Celeste Yargus and Keyton John Yargus, one sister Phyllis
Sue Yentes, two sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Barbara
and Duane Wibben and Koann and Richard Chapman, all of
Illinois and a host of nieces and nephews.
Services were held May 18, 2019 at the First United
Methodist Church of Dade City.
There will be a memorial service in Illinois at the Emden
Community House on June 15, 2019, 2-4 PM. |
John
H. Swart