John F. Schwegler, 85, of Rock Island, died Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Silver Cross Nursing Center, Friendship Manor in Rock Island, following a long struggle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Services will be 10 am, Thursday, at Two Rivers United Methodist Church, 1820 Fifth Ave., Rock Island.  Visitation is at Wheelan-Pressly  Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030  7th Avenue, Rock Island on Wednesday, from 4 to 7 p.m., followed by a Masonic service at 7 pm., at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be conducted by the Moline American Legion.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Two Rivers Church, Friendship Manor, or the Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation.

John Frederick Schwegler was born on August 24, 1931 in Rock Island, a son of Fred H. Schwegler and Susie A. Forgy Schwegler.  He married Nancy Kathryn Knosher on July 3, 1960 in Champaign, Illinois.

John was a lifelong resident of Rock Island and was a 1949 graduate of Rock Island High School.  After serving in Korea with the U.S. Army, he received industrial engineering degrees from the University of Illinois in 1958 and the University of Iowa in 1964.

He completed a machinist apprenticeship at Farmall Works of International Harvester and then became a plant equipment designer.  Later, he was an industrial engineer at the Rock Island Arsenal.

John was an active member of Two Rivers Church, where he sang in the Sanctuary Choir for 38 years and served in various leadership roles.  He was a 60-year member of the Masonic fraternity and served three terms as Master of Trio Lodge #57.  His hobbies were singing, scale-modeling, and aviation. His greatest earthly love was for his family.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Nancy; sons, Thomas (Springfield, IL) and William (Cedar Rapids, IA); sister, Elizabeth (Rock Island); nephews Eric (Krista), Neil (Janet), and Brian (Jennifer) Mathis; sister-in-law Carol Mathis, brother-in-law Earl Knosher; three grand-nieces and four grand-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Roy, sister-in-law Natalie, niece Paula, and nephew David.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the devoted staffs of Friendship Manor-Silver Cross Nursing Center and Hospice Compassus for the loving care given to John during his last two years.

Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com.