Quincy man who served for Army, Air Force to be featured speaker during Memorial Day program at Illinois Veterans Home

QUINCY — Roger Schwengel will be the featured speaker for the Memorial Day program at the Illinois Veterans Home at 10:30 a.m. Friday outside Markword Infirmary.

Rick Gengenbacher will be the master of ceremonies for the event. The American Legion Post 37 color guard will present the colors, and the Silver Wings Band will perform the national anthem.

After the invocation and welcome by Troy Culbertson, administrator at the Illinois Veterans Home, adjutant Dawn Whitcomb will introduce Schwengel.

Schwengel was raised on a farm near Camp Point, where he was a grain and livestock farmer until 1984. He worked for John Deere farm equipment until 2008, and he was a part-time farmhand for Dean Moore Farms until 2020. 

Schwengel also served 14 years in the reserve components of the U.S. Army, then six years in the Air National Guard 183rd Fighter Wing at Springfield, Ill. He completed the Munitions System Apprentice Course at Shepard Air Force Base in Texas in March 2001, and one year later, his unit was activated for 90 days in support of Operation Southern Watch in Kuwait. He volunteered for another tour of active duty in October 2004 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Qatar. 

After also serving on the base honor guard and the state rifle team, Schwengel retired on Sept. 11, 2005, after serving more than 20 years in the military. He received the Air Force Commendation Medal at his retirement ceremony. 

He is an active member of the American Legion Post 37 and serves on the post’s honor and color guard. He also is chairman of the advisory council at the Veterans Home. 

Schwengel and his wife, Rene, live in Quincy. They have seven children, 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. 

People in attendance are asked to remain quiet during the program.