Kenneth Woodrow Swaringim, age 83, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2026, at his home surrounded by family in Licking, Missouri. Ken was born on December 7, 1942 in Ironton, Missouri to Henry and Luetta Swaringim.
Ken served in the US Army in the Engineering Battalion as a young man. He spent this time at Fort Benning Georgia.
After being discharged from the Army, he worked in the mines for a short time. He then hired on with the US Forest Service serving in Centerville Missouri. He transferred to the Houston office and continued to serve there until his retirement after 30 years.
During his time with the Forest Service, he would go out west and fight fires during the summer. He spent time in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, as well as in the Mark Twain National Forest right here in Missouri fighting fires and making friends.
He enjoyed playing Smokey the Bear in several Christmas Parades and at the local Rodeo.
Ken was an active member of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association for many years. He could be found manning the grill at many events they held throughout the state.
After retirement, sitting under the shade trees with family and friends during a big bar-b-que or fish fry was his greatest enjoyment. Friends became family to him and the door was always open to anyone. He was also a loyal friend, the kind that turns into family. His bond with Joe and Leo was something special, and they stood beside him through the years not just as friends, but as brothers in life.
Ken raised cattle on the family farm in Licking often enlisting the help of his sons and neighbors when it was time to “work cows”. He was a great gardener, and you could frequently find him tilling and hoeing in a large garden each year. It didn’t matter how hot it was, if the garden needed attention, he was out there sweating and making sure his family would have fresh food to eat and preserve.
Of all things he loved, nothing meant more to him than his grandbabies. They brought out a softer side of him that not everyone got to see…LOVE HAS A WAY OF DOING THAT TO A PERSON!
Ken was a person you were proud to call a friend, and he will be greatly missed!
Ken is preceded in death by his parents, Henry W. Swaringim and Luetta M. Martin Swaringim; wife, Reba Bone Swaringim; sons; Karl Swaringim, and Patrick Swaringim; and one sister, Sharon Andrus.
Ken is survived by three daughters, Kathy (Jaye) Watson, Kimberly (Nick) Kepple, and Shakoda (Lance) Davis; one very precious daughter-in-law Cathi; brother, Donald Swaringim; grandchildren, Deneall, Tristian, Korina, Denver, and Joni; and great-grandchildren, Delila, Nick, Parker, Syler, and Jade.
