Charlene Swanson, 96, of Davenport, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2026, at MercyOne Genesis East, surrounded by her beloved family.

Born on December 15, 1929, in Russell, Iowa, Charlene was the cherished daughter of James Thomas Perry and Beryl Gladys Sheldon. She married Raymond “Ray” Swanson on August 16, 1953. Together, they shared 57 years of marriage and raised two daughters before his passing on March 24, 2011. Charlene took immense pride in her role as a homemaker, creating a warm, nurturing environment where her family always came first.

Charlene’s faith was the cornerstone of her life. For most of her life she was an exceptionally active member of first Salem Lutheran Church in Moline, and then Wildwood Church in East Moline. She served these congregations in countless ways, including working as a money counter, participating in care groups, teaching Sunday School, and serving with Ray as a greeter. Demonstrating a remarkable spirit of service, she remained committed to the church's shut-in visitation program, proudly serving to the age of 85 with her dear friend Betty Pfau.

Her passion for helping others also extended into the wider community through her extensive volunteer work at YouthHope, where she served as treasurer for a time, helped as an after-school tutor, and worked with her husband Ray in the food pantry.

In her leisure time, Charlene loved crossword puzzles, playing games with her card clubs, and her daily Wordle. She also took correspondence courses in Biblical studies with Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, graduating from her program in 1998. Above all, she was her grandchildren's biggest fans. She could always be found attending her local families’ baseball games, concerts, and shows, and she treasured the regular journeys she and Ray would make to see her family in New Jersey.

She is survived by her daughters, Rebecca Murphy and Beth (Jared) Johnson; her grandchildren, Joey (Nathalia) Murphy, Ali (Craig) Lowery, Thomas Johnson, Russell Johnson, Elliot Johnson, and Lucia Johnson; and her great-grandchildren, Kevin and Jack. Charlene was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ray, her parents, James and Beryl, and her siblings Donald, James, Margaret, and Jack.

A visitation will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home in Davenport, with a memorial service to follow at 11:00 am at the funeral home. She has been peacefully laid to rest at the Rock Island National Cemetery with a private family service.

Memorials may be made in remembrance of Charlene to Wildwood Church, YouthHope, or Partners with Ethiopia.