Ellwyn Louis Henry Schwanz
January 26, 1940 — June 15, 2016
Ellwyn Louis Henry Schwanz, 76, of Tavares, FL, formerly of Le Claire, IA, died Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Tavares, FL.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a memorial service immediately following on Thursday July 7, 2016, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 38th Avenue, Moline. Per Ellwyn’s wishes cremation rites have been accorded and burial of cremains will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens following the service. The family will host a “Celebration of Life” from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Stoney Creek Hotel 101 18th Street, Moline.
Ellwyn was born on January 26, 1940, in Eagan, MN, the son of Elmer and Alberta Scharff Schwanz. He worked as an insurance agent for Allstate Insurance Company for 33 years, retiring in 1995. He married Judith Lawson in 1960 in Moline, IL. Together they had 5 children. He later married Darlene Jones in 1981 in Moline, IL, and she preceded him in death in 1999. Ellwyn married Carol Zuber in 2000, in Toledo, OH.
Ellwyn was on the dean’s list while he attended the 9th and 10th grade at Wentworth Military Academy in Missouri. In 1958, he graduated from Bettendorf High School. From there, he went to Augustana College. Ellwyn loved the outdoors and enjoyed playing with his many toys. Boating, fishing, snowmobiling, and cross- country adventures by motor home were just a few of his interests. It seemed that cars had their own special place from the time of his first sales job at VJ New to the opening of his own specialty car lot in 2002 called Elmo’s Place. None of these begin to compare to his greatest passion in life, spending time with his friends and family.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Schwanz, Tavares, FL; 5 children, Rick (Jacque) Schwanz, Glendale, AZ, Robin (Brian) Geurink, Davenport, IA, Rob (Mary) Schwanz, Brooklyn Park, MN, Randy (Kelley) Schwanz, Aledo, IL, and Renee (Kevin) Skillett, Davenport, IA; 4 step children, Lynn Carstens, Jeff Carstens, Daniel Carter, and Thomas Zuber; 19 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and second wife, Darlene.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.