Dennis Swearingen, 78, Kiester

Published 2:10 pm Saturday, July 9, 2011

Dennis D. Swearingen, age 78, of Kiester, died Thursday, July 7, 2011, at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea, where he resided since September of 2006. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 11, 2011, at 2 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church in Kiester. Visitation will be today from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. The Rev. Cherie Daniel will officiate and burial will take place in Fairview Cemetery, north of Kiester, with military honors accorded by the Kiester American Legion Post. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is assisting the family with arrangements.

Dennis Swearingen

Dennis Dean Swearingen was the first-born son of Lucian and Margaret (Funderburk) Swearingen on April 6, 1933, in Swea City, Iowa. Dennis served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean conflict. On Nov. 1, 1953, he was united in marriage to LaVonne Krosch at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. To this union, a daughter, Deborah Ann was born in 1956, and a son, Brian Kelly in 1959. Upon returning from serving his country, he was employed for many years at Almco Company in Albert Lea. He then operated his own business doing mechanic work on autos and tractors. He was a baptized member of the Britt Baptist Church until 1998 when he became a member of Grace United Methodist Church of Kiester.

Dennis is survived by his wife of 57 years, LaVonne Swearingen of Kiester; one daughter: Deborah (Claire) Bulawski of Mankato; one son: Brian Kelly Swearingen of Kiester; four grandsons: Stephan Bulawski (fiancé Michelle), Lucas Bulawski, Riley Swearingen and Logan Swearingen; three brothers: James Swearingen (Bonnie) of Glenville, Dan (Kathy) Swearingen and Bill (Diane) Swearingen, all of Thompson, Iowa; two sisters: Donna (Alfred) Mayland of Rake, Iowa, and Sharon (Jammie) Lamb of Scarville, Iowa; along with many nieces, nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents.