James Eugene Swider

In the early hours of Saturday, July 2, 2022, James Eugene Swider (Gene/Jim). Passed unexpectedly at the age of 58 years old with his loving wife at his side. The world lost a great Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle, and Grandfather, Friend. James was born in Danville, IL on July 10, 1963 to the late Jim & Shirley Swider later in life he meets the love of his life Rebecca Sue Swider (Dowers) through a blind date. It was love at first sight for them both. That love grew to include Rebecca’s daughter, Chelsea Sajnaj (Draper) and son Billy Joe Lutz. James and Rebecca married on July 17, 1999. If you asked James what his greatest accomplishment was, it was being a father and grandfather. James became a grandfather to Sydney Sajnaj in October of 2018 and to Sawyer Sajnaj in August of 2020. His Grandchildren were one of the many joys in his life as spending time with his family and friends and of course his three fur babies. James is survived by his wife Rebecca Swider (Dowers) daughter Chelsea (Jason) Sajnaj, Son Billy joe Lutz and his fiancé (Shay), grandchildren Sydney and Sawyer Sajnaj, Sisters Debby (Danny) Cope and Brenda Roberts, also including several special nieces and nephews. James was preceded in death by his parents Jim & Shirley Swider, his sister Cathy, his brotherin-law James Roberts, his dear mother-in-law Sonna Montgomery, and Albert Montgomery. James was avid Cardinal fan and love to argue with you about them. He also enjoyed Racing and was a big fan of Bobby Pierce. He also enjoyed Fishing, going to flea markets and thank God he never brought any flea’s back home with him. He also loved to have cookouts he might have burnt your hamburgers from time to time but what we wouldn’t do today to have one of those burnt hamburgers. James spent 8 years being Crew Chief on his nephew’s (P2) demo car stripping and building as a team. James always wanted to do a demo or ride in the demo with his nephew but never could bring his self to do it. Some of our fondest memories: (Billy) First time he took Billy catfishing and James didn’t think Billy would catch anything but he did, Billy wanted to bring the catfish home so here they were bringing a catfish in the house to put in a 20 Gallon tank because Billy didn’t want it to die. (Brenda) Waiting for 2 hours just to sit in the 1957 caddy at the 50’s & 60’s café in Gulf Shores he had to make sure he had that car to sit down in to have supper. He was Brenda’s back seat driver but yet in the front seat on the way to Gulf Shores yelling at her to watch that car or this car. By the time she got there she was ready to put him in the trunk. (Debby) While in Gulf Shores he was scared to go out into the water I guess he didn’t want to be shark food. Meanwhile Brenda, Debby, Savanna, Lilly is way out there towards the middle and he just stands on the beach and waves at us and yells you're going to be shark food. Also, our time at the water park and he got into the lazy river there was no getting him out of that thing. Even though we all got out he kept saying one more time around well that one more time around turned into three to four more times around. We will forever hold on to the memories you left us, we all love and miss you. Services for James will be announced at a later date. Donations to help with funeral expenses can be made through Watson Cremation Services 1511 Greenwood Cemetery Road Danville, IL 61832 or you may contact Brad at the cremation Services @ 217-778-2666

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