Leonard Swihart, 93, went peacefully to be with his LORD on February 23, 2025. He was born on May 26, 1931, in Jackson, Michigan.
He was pre-deceased by his parents, Ulysses and Eva Marie Swihart, four brothers and their wives, Dick and Rosemary Swihart, Harold and Bernice Swihart, Dale and Phyllis Swihart, and Phil and Rose Swihart, and a sister and her husband, Helen and Elson Raser.
Leonard was a veteran of the Korean War and served at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri, from 1952-1954. While stationed there he married Carolyn Sue Moore on February 20, 1953. They were married 63 years before she passed away in 2016.
After his service, he returned to Michigan where he was saved. He surrendered to full-time Christian Service and was a missionary of the Gospel in Iran and Surinam. He also pastored in Arkansas before retiring to Florida.
He was pre-deceased by his son-i-law Dean Mereness and daughter-in-law Loretta Meixner. He is survived by his children, Paul Swihart and his wife, Candy, Pam Mereness, Pat Swihart and his wife, Rhonda, and Peggy Wellman and her husband Jack. Leonard has 21 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and 3 great, great grandchildren.
The funeral service will be on March 12,2025 at Toale Brothers Funeral Home, 40 N Orange Avenue, Sarasota, Florida. Visiting hours will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The service will be at 12 p.m. and will be officiated by Pastor Nicholson of the Community Baptist Church, Bradenton, Florida.
Internment will be 2 p.m. at the Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Rd, 72. Sarasota, Florida.
