Evelyn Swank Plager, 96, of Sebring, Florida, formerly of Freeport, IL, passed away on January 1, 2014, in Florida Hospital, Sebring, Florida.
Evelyn was born on June 26, 1917, to Blair Byrem and Florence Bushelle Byrem in Freeport, IL.
Evelyn was a graduate of Freeport High School.
She was united in marriage to Gerald Lewis Swank on June 4, 1937, in Freeport, IL. Gerald Swank died on October 19, 1972. She married Morrell (Mope) Plager on December 2, 1974, and he preceded her in death on October 19, 1997.
Evelyn Swank Plager worked for Rockford Business College. She was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church of Freeport, and a founding member of Prince of Peace Church of Freeport. Evelyn was a member of Freeport Garden Club and the Freeport Elks Club. Evelyn loved spending time with her family, golf and travel. She is survived by her sister, Lorraine Miley of Rockford, IL; her daughters, Luanne Swank (Jim) Wright of Belvidere, IL and Mary Lou Swank (Bob) Newton of Avon Park, FL; her daughter-in-law, Susan Swank of Freeport, IL; stepdaughter, Bonnie Plager (Bill) Mueller of Littleton, CO; grandchildren, Mark (Mary Jo) Wright, Todd (Holly) Wright, Laurie (Al) Lamb, Michael (Sherry) Mertes, Angela (Jon) Spachman, Mindy (Fletcher) Martin, Tim (Heidi) Mueller, Brian Mueller, Kevin (Heidi) Mueller, and Traci (David) Crowell; and 28 great-grandchildren.
Evelyn was predeceased by her parents, husbands, Gerald Swank and Mope Plager, daughter, Sharon Lou Swank, son, David Gerald Swank, sisters, Thelma Keith and Leona Dinges, brothers, Blair Byrem and George Byrem.
A celebration of Evelyn's life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2014, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2700 W. Stephenson Street in Freeport, IL. Pastor Mark Luepke will officiate.
Interment will be at White Oak Cemetery in Forreston, IL.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, January 9, 2014, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.