David Clark Sweezer...Age 103

ALL SERVICES WILL BE AT THE EDDY-BIRCHARD FUNERAL HOME
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SERVICE: 12 NOON, FRIDAY JANUARY 24, 2014

VISITATION: 10AM - 12 NOON FRIDAY JANUARY 24, 2014

BURIAL: MT. MORIAH CEMETERY, NORTH KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

MEMORIAL: HEARTLAND HOSPICE

Memorials may be sent in care of the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home P.O. Box 430 Osawatomie, KS 66064

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David Clark Sweezer age 103, of Osawatomie, Kansas died Monday, January 20, 2014 at the Life Care Center of Osawatomie.

David was born November 27, 1910 in Boone County, Missouri near Rocky Fork. He was one of seven children born to Robert Clark and Letha Esther (Fenton) Sweezer.

He grew up in the Hallsville, Fenton, and Rocky Fork area and went to school there. He was born and raised in the country on his grandfather’s land that his father farmed.

On December 19, 1937 he married Sylvia Mae Gentry in Kansas City, Missouri. They made their home in Kansas City to be close to his wife’s family, until 1941 when they moved to Osawatomie where David went to work for Missouri Pacific Railroad as a janitor.


On February 16, 1943 during World War II, David was inducted into the United States Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was a general clerk at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi until his discharge on October 17, 1944.

David and Sylvia never had children, but their life together was a full, loving journey. They were married for over fifty-two years when Sylvia died on April 24, 1990.

David continued his employment with the railroad after his discharge from the military and he was later promoted to mail clerk at the Osawatomie Depot. David took his work seriously and it was said he never missed a day of work. David retired from Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1974.

David loved working in his flower garden, and he took walks every day. He enjoyed bowling and was on the Missouri Pacific Railroad bowling team that bowled at the Osawatomie Bowl, a local bowling alley. He liked going for rides and seeing the sights and generally just enjoying the ride. Christmas was his favorite holiday, and he loved to eat sweets. He was known to say “eat sweets every day it’s what keeps you young.” Apparently he was correct in his statement, he lived on his own after his wife died until 2009 when he moved to the Life Care Center at the age of 99.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Osawatomie, a former member of the American Legion of Osawatomie and during the depression of the 1930’s he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corp.

David was preceded in death by his wife, five brothers: Robert, I.N., Floyd Lee and James Andrew and Anthony Sweezer and one sister Mary (Sweezer) Poore.

He is survived by several nieces and nephews and a dear friend and neighbor of thirty years, Pat Schasteen.