Kevin Sweere

KEVIN JOHN SWEERE July 15, 1953 – April 15, 2017                   Kevin John Sweere, age 63, of Menahga, MN, peacefully entered eternity on Saturday, April 15, 2017 in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loved ones, following a valiant battle against cancer.                 Kevin was born on July 15, 1953 in Wadena, MN to Gerald and Betty (Johnson) Sweere.  He attended Wadena Public Schools where he also participated in Golden Gloves boxing and graduated with the Class of 1971.  Kevin went on to attend the Wadena Vocational-Technical College where he studied Masonary.  In the summer of 1974 he was united in marriage to Connie Jean Grow.  They were blessed with three sons:  Derek, Brian and Nick.  The young family made their home in Wadena where Kevin worked for Mason Brothers Grocery Wholesalers and went to school at night to study to become an electrical lineman.  In 1991, they moved to Spicer, MN where Kevin gained employment with the Kandiyohi County Power Company in a career that spanned 22 Years until his retirement in 2013 when he moved to a country home north of Menahga, MN.   Kevin loved spending time in the outdoors.  He especially loved hunting, fishing and camping and enjoyed teaching his sons the skills that made him such a great outdoorsman.  Kevin especially enjoyed competing in walleye and muskie fishing tournaments and was honored in the Muskie, Inc. magazine for catching and releasing the most muskie throughout the 1980’s.  He loved working in the woods harvesting firewood.  Family was important to Kevin and he looked forward to spending time with his loved ones whenever possible.                 He will be lovingly remembered by his special friend and companion, Judy Smith of Menahga, MN; his three sons: Derek Sweere of Menahga, Brian (Kelly) Sweere of Sunburg, MN and Nick (Abi Wright) Sweere of St. Francis, MN; his four dearly loved grandchildren: Levi, Logan, Lexi and Silas; his mother, Betty Meadows and his sister, Brenda (Mark) Wiger all of Minneapolis; his brother, Keith (Julie) Sweere of New Ulm, MN as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.                 Kevin was preceded in death by his father and one sister, Beth Sweere; his former wife, Connie Sweere who died in August of 2008 and his mother’s husband, Ray Meadows.                 Services will be held 2 PM Friday, April 21, 2017 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids with the Reverend Ray Hendrickson officiating.  The urnbearers will be Kevin’s three sons:  Derek, Brian and Nick.  Friends may visit beginning one hour prior to the service.  Following the service a light lunch will be hosted.