Robert H. Swearingen

Robert H. Swearingen, age 73, went home to his Lord after battling cancer on Jan. 30, 2013.

He was born June 26, 1939, to Gilbert and Ester (Wagner) Swearingen in Brainerd, Minn.

He was a graduate of class of 1958 from Washington Sr. High, Brainerd, Minn.

He served four years in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Ranger as an aircraft crew and mechanic.

He was in at the time of the Cuban missile crisis.

He married Jeannine (Potvin) Swearingen in 1963. Of this union he has three children, Paul (Terese) Swearingen, of Buffalo, Minn., Kathi (Rusty) Johnson, of Hovland, Minn., Shawn (Kelly) Swearingen, of Grand Marais, Minn.; four grandsons, Colee, Skyler and Clay Johnson, of Hovland, Minn., and Connor Ingram, of Grand Marais, Minn.; four granddaughters, Jolee Marquett (Craig), Randee and Lacy Swearingen and Nicole Berthiaume; three great-grandchildren, Natalee Marquett and Alie and Ona Berthiaume.

He is also survived by one sister, Darleen Dalton; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents: two sisters; and three brothers.

His favorite thing was reading and he was very knowledgeable.

In his early years he loved fishing and hunting.

He worked 20 years at Menasha Corrigated in Brooklyn Park, Minn., 15 years for Potlatch Paper Mill, Brainerd. He worked for Ryden’s, Grand Portage, and managed High Falls for a short time and did some logging.

He will be missed by his family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hovland, Minn., on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m. in the afternoon with a light meal and fellowship to follow downstairs.