John A. Swearingen

John A. Swearingen passed away peacefully March 29, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri. John A. was born on December 2, 1946, in Trenton, Missouri to John S. and Winnifred R. Swearingen. At the age of 2 he contracted polio while visiting his grandmother in southern Missouri. He was rushed to Saint Anthony’s Hospital in Saint Louis where the doctors told his parents he would not survive. But due to his courage and indomitable spirit John survived against almost insurmountable odds. Throughout the remainder of his life the polio forced John to wear leg braces and walk with crutches. He did so without complaint or bitterness and all this did not stop him from being a “regular boy”. He loved playing baseball and as a child could be found at one of the local fields where he would hit the ball while a friend or sibling would run the bases for him. He loved hitching a ride on the back of a buddy’s bicycle and on a warm summer afternoon spending hours fishing with his dad at Pershing Park. In 1954 his family moved to Brookfield. At that time the local public elementary school was not able to accommodate his handicap so the good Sisters of Immaculate Conception Catholic School took John in with open arms and provided the educational background that allowed John to excel in all future academic endeavors. During his youth John spent almost a year at the Franklin Roosevelt Warm Springs, Georgia polio rehabilitation facility and for years thereafter he would make an annual trip to that facility for his physical checkups. He always attributed his time at Warm Springs as some of the best in his life. John graduated from Brookfield High School in 1964, from the University of Missouri in 1968, and from the University of Missouri of Law in 1971. He was licensed to practice law in Missouri and Hawaii and maintained a small practice for many years in Brookfield. John loved to travel and had many interests. He became a gifted photographer with many of his photos published in commercial venues. His love of trains resulted in years spent collecting HO Scale Model Trains as well as all sort of other train memorabilia. But perhaps his first love was poetry. He spent hours in solitude constructing and perfecting rhyme and verse. A book of his poems title ‘Something More” was published in 2023. John is survived by three sisters, Melinda of Las Vegas, Mary of Saint Louis, and Nancy (Jess) of Moline, Il, a nephew Caleb (Juana) of Marceline and niece Sarah (Kevin) of Davenport, as well as several cousins and great nieces and a great nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents and a younger brother. The family wants to express deep gratitude to the staff of Life Care for all the care and concern provided to John over the last ten years. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am. to 11:00 am. Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Rhodes Funeral Home, Brookfield, MO. A private family burial will be in the Perrin Cemetery in Perrin, MO. Arrangements are under the direction of Rhodes Funeral Home, Brookfield, MO. In lieu of flowers donations in John’s memory are requested to Life Care Center of Brookfield activity fund and can be left at or mailed to Rhodes Funeral Home, 216 Linn Street, Brookfield, MO. 64628

John A. Swearingen

December 2, 1946 - March 29, 2025