Clark L. Swank, 80 of Coal Valley, passed away Thursday, August 21, 2025, at his home. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, August 28, at Fippinger Funeral Home in Aledo, Illinois. The family encourages those attending to wear their Bears attire or other favorite NFL attire. The funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Friday, August 29, at Fippinger Funeral Home. Burial will be at Greenmound Cemetery in Keithsburg, Illinois, where military honors will be conducted. Following the graveside service will be a luncheon at Keithsburg First Christian Church. Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans. Online condolences may be left to Clark’s family at www.fippingerfuneralhome.com.
Clark was born on January 16, 1945, in Keithsburg to Henry and Rosalie Clark Swank. He graduated from Westmer High School and later attended Blackhawk College. Clark was a proud U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War. He retired from John Deere as an engineer and was later employed at Tri City Machine Shop. Clark married Patsy M. Mills on December 28, 1969, at First Baptist Church in Aledo and Clark and Patsy were married for 54 years until her passing on June 15, 2024.
Clark was a member of Gerlaw Christian Church in Gerlaw, Illinois. He was an avid golfer and sports fan. His favorite football team was the Chicago Bears and favorite basketball team was the Indiana Fever; he specifically enjoyed watching Caitlin Clark play. Clark loved watching Westerns. He enjoyed books and has always been a reader. Clark was a techie who always had to have the state of the art gadgets.
Those left to cherish Clark’s memory include his children, Jim (Melody) Jones of Preemption, Illinois, Kathryn (Dennis) Docherty of Alexis, Illinois, Clark “Bear” H. Swank of Viola, Illinois, and Kristi (David) Zeitz of Coal Valley; grandchildren, Jennifer (Nick) Blaser, Mike (Jamie) Jones, Lindsey (Dale) Watts, Dakota (Ben) Gheer, Megan (Joseph) Cardillo, Cass Swank, and Chase Minteer; great grandchildren, Daylen Blaser, Jackson Jones, Kyla Blaser, Javin Jones, Jaren Jones, Braxten Blaser, Jaylee Jones, Brenden Prine, Garrett Prine, Stormy Prine, Finn Lafferty, Anna Gheer, and Isabelle Carothers; and niece, Natalie (Doss) Russell.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patsy; parents, Henry and Rosalie; paternal grandparents, Harry Owen and Mary Jane Clark; maternal grandparents, Harvey and Herma Ellen Swank; sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Ed Doss; and great nephew, Jake Nylin.