Keith E. Swenson

Keith Elwin Swenson

BOSCOBEL- Passed away peacefully on October 13, 2021 at the age of 81. He is survived by his loving wife Gloria (née Mindham) of 58 years; his children Brook (Bonnie) Swenson, Brian Swenson (Paula Slattery), and Karmen (Pete) Shoys; and his grandchildren Deacon, Levon, Morgan, Sashia, Aubrey, Emma, Ian, and Quinn. Further survived by his brothers-in-law Virgil Ritchie, Leon (Marsha), Gary (Cathy Carpenter), Arnold (Janet), Warren, and Loren Mindham. He is preceded in death by his parents Harvey and Vivian Swenson, his sister Maxine Ritchie, his brother Arnold Swenson (Arnold’s daughter Karen), his stepfather Joe Sopher, and his in-laws Russell and Evelyn Mindham along with many farm pets over the years. 

Keith was born on August 6, 1940 in his family home near Homer, WI in Hickory Grove township where he was raised. He graduated from Boscobel High School in 1958. The year before, his father passed away while in Janesville working to earn money for Keith’s college. Keith never did get to attend college but instead went to Madison, WI to work for McCormick Fuel and Lumber Company. He married Gloria Mindham on January 19, 1963 in the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, IA on the coldest day of the year. They bought a farm in 1967 near Mt. Zion, WI and raised three children there. At this time, he started a Carpentry business with Ron Knoble as his partner. He worked building houses, including his own, around Boscobel and neighboring communities for 19 years. In 1986 he bought a Salvage Yard in Boscobel and enjoyed going there every day for over 30 years. Keith served as a 4H leader for over 30 years and helped start the Boscobel Antique Club which he was a member of for many years. Keith and Gloria lived on the farm for 51 years until moving to Boscobel in 2018. 

Keith was an avid antique car collector over his lifetime. Among many unique cars, he also collected antique tractors, motorcycles and a 1949 Fire Engine. He restored a 1931 Ford Hot Rod Roadster and a 1931 Ford Model A. Over the years he collected many classic cars he was proud of but all vehicles were sadly sold at auction when he retired. 

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday November 13, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. at the Kendall Funeral Home in  Boscobel. Pastor Stan Pegram officiating. Burial in the Boscobel Cemetery. Friends may call on Saturday November 13, 2021 from 9:00 A.M. until the time of Service at the Kendall Funeral Home in Boscobel. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to: Huntington’s Disease Society of America, 505 Eighth Avenue, Suite 902, New York, NY 10018 or online at www.hdsa.org.                   Online condolences can be sent to www.kendallfuneralservice.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Keith E. Swenson, please visit our floral store.