Marion B. Swearingen

Marion B. ""Mac"" Swearingen, Springfield, Missouri, went home to heaven on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at the age of 88 years, seven months and 22 days. He was born January 19, 1922, the third son of Carl and Mary (Coulter) Swearingen. Stan and Carl were his older brothers. Mac grew up working on his family farm and attended Mt. Ayr Elementary School and the laboratory school at Northwest Missouri State Teachers College. Mac's working life included dishwashing in a hotel; service station attendant; sales clerk in a hardware store; and a stockman in a F.W. Woolworth store. He spent 30 years working in Civil Service for the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, with the Army Department as a Procurement Officer, and ten years as a wholesale salesman with the Eureka Company before retiring in 1982. After High School, he was drafted into the Army in October of 1942 and served as a medic in the 328th Medical Battalion, 103rd Infantry division. Mac was sent to the Eastern Theater landing in Marseilles, France, where he was wounded during his tour of duty. After months of being treated in Army hospitals, he was sent back to the States and ended up at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver, Colorado, where he was discharged with a Purple Heart. Mac met and married Eleanor Brunkardt, who introduced him to the Lutheran Church. He received Holy Baptism on January 15 and was confirmed on February 2, 1947 at Grace Lutheran Church. In 1953, the family began attending a new Lutheran mission that would become Hope Lutheran Church in Aurora, Colorado. Mac served as chairman of the congregation from 1959-1961 and was elected chairman of the building committee in 1961. Eleanor and Mac had 31 years of marriage and were blessed with four children, Susan, Gary, Rod and Jack. Eleanor passed away suddenly on May 3, 1977, while Mac was on the road working for the Eureka Company. Mac married Lee Walz in February of 1978 and adopted her three children, Mike, Kathy and David. They later moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he became an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, serving on many Boards. Mac loved to travel with Lee and loved baseball, especially the St. Louis Cardinals, enjoyed cheering for the Missouri Tigers and had a life-long love for the Denver Broncos. Mac was the beloved husband of Leona Swearingen for 32 years (and late wife Eleanor for 31 years); dear father of Susan (Pete) Lauterbach, Gary (Joanne) Swearingen, Rod (Lana) Swearingen, Jack (Lisa) Swearingen, Mike Swearingen, Kathryn (HD) Shallenberger and David (Martha) Swearingen; grandfather of Michael Lauterbach, Heidi Lauterbach, Lindsay Swearingen, Sarah Swearingen, Kelly Swearingen, Christine Swearingen, Brett Swearingen, Blair Swearingen, Ian Shallenberger and Holly Swearingen; and great grandfather of Anthony Burtraw, Jacksen Johnson and Jesse Johnson. Please share your memories of Mac and condolences with his family by selecting the ""sign guestbook"" button below.