Cletus Joseph Schwaegel, age 80, of Swansea, formerly of O'Fallon, Ill., born October 20, 1935 in Belleville, Ill., passed away Monday, October 3, 2016 at Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.

Clete grew up in O'Fallon, living in the family farmhouse north of O'Fallon for 78 years. He farmed from 1953 – 1968. He then went to work for St. Clair FS for 17 years. He was elected to the Caseyville Township Road District Highway Commission until his retirement at age 75. He was a member of Ainad Shriners AANMOS, Dania Shrine Club and Legion of Honor. He also belonged to the O'Fallon Knights of Columbus Council 4239.

Clete was a well-known, talented fast-pitch softball player and played for many years in the metro-east. He was named to several area Softball Halls of Fame, including Belleville News-Democrat, Southside, Illinois State, and the St. Louis Softball Hall of Fame. He later took up golfing and enjoyed his time with his buddies on Tamarack and other golf courses. Formed in 1966, Clete was the lead singer and guitarist for the "San-An-Tones," a popular country and western band in southern Illinois, where he performed regularly until about two years ago.

He was preceded in death by his daughters Jean Marie Schwaegel and Christine Stephans; his parents Adolph and Barbara, nee Fellner, Schwaegel; his sisters Dorothy Macke and Berniece Burns; his twin brother Clyde and brother Ray.

Surviving are his wife Dorothy, nee Mueth, Schwaegel, whom he married April 13, 1955; his daughters Cheryl (Kyle) Kummer of Attleboro, Mass., Jackie (Steve) Hausmann of Waterloo, Ill., Joan (Jeff) Logsdon of Paragould, Ark., and Deanna Buersken of Ogden, Utah. Also surviving are his grandchildren Leah Garrison, Kyle and Jesse Kummer, Jeannie and Victor Stephans, Katie Wallace, Hillary and Bradley Hausmann, Kayla McNamara, Brooklyn Buersken, Ashley Cole, and Matt Logsdon; great-grandchildren Emma, Colin, Ayden, Braeden, Hanley, Kyler, Keaton, and Grace; his sister Celeste (Stan) Agne of Belleville, Ill., and sister-in-law Helen Toennies of Breese, Ill. Memorial donations are suggested to Shriner's Hospital for Children or the Catholic Ministry to Sick and Aged of Southern Illinois.

Visitation: Friends may visit from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 at St. Clare Catholic Church, 1411 Cross St., Shiloh, and from 9:00 – 9:45 a.m., Saturday, October 8, 2016, at the church. The Shriners Legion of Honor walk-through will be at 7:00 p.m., Friday, at the church.

Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 am, Saturday, October 8, 2016, at the church with Rev. James Deiters and Rev. Gene Neff concelebrating. Interment will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Shiloh.