Gene Richard Sword

Gene Richard Sword passed away peacefully at 2:30pm Friday, July 9, 2021 at his home in Kansas City, Missouri at the age of 84.

He was born on January 6, 1937 in Nampa, Idaho the son of Eugene Castle Sword and Rachel Wynona Dartt Collins.

After high school he served four years in the U.S. Navy as an Electronics Technician prior to marrying Marianne at the Calvary Baptist Church and raising five children. He was a man of many trades, from selling and building Bullock Garages, working the line at Electric Wheel and numerous bookkeeping positions. Upon retirement from the IRS, he and his wife lived in an RV full time for 11 years and traveled to Canada, Mexico, Alaska and many other states and wintered in Alamo, Texas. He was an avid gardener, walker, beekeeper and all-around handyman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather Andrew Collins, stepmother Gladys Sword, siblings Marion and Ada Jean Sword, Dan and Tom Collins, son-in-law John DeNatale and Chris Castro.

Surviving is his wife of nearly 60 years, Marianne Jean “Bullock” Sword; five children, Maurice (Delorse) Sword, Marla DeNatale, Melody Smith, Michelle (Jason) Norman and Michael (Gina) Sword; 8 grandchildren, Justin, Cody, Megan, Macie, Ryan, Nicholas, Lauren and Kathryn; siblings, Marvin (Thelma) Sword, John Thomas (Barb) Sword; Wanda (Mike) Jarvis, Jerry Collins, Dave Collins; many nieces and nephews.

Many thanks to the Liberty Home Health, North Kansas City Home Health and Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care for taking such good care of Gene these last few months.

Visitation will be at the Calvary Baptist Church, 1632 Georgetown Road, Tilton, Illinois 61833 from 9:30 -11:30am Saturday, July 17th. Burial services shortly thereafter at Gundy Cemetery in Bismarck, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Community Project of Kansas City, Missouri.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gene Richard Sword, please visit our floral store.