Kenneth J. Sweetwood

Kenny was born on September 16, 1967, to Cecil Kermit (C.K.) and Mary Elizabeth (nee Cleveland) Sweetwood of Kansas City, Missouri. Kenny was born in Titusville, Florida, where he lived until age 9. It was on this southeast coast where his Southern roots were planted, and when his love for the Miami Dolphins began. The family then moved to Kansas City, where he attended St. Patrick’s Catholic Grade School. This is where he would immediately meet the future love of his life Sheryl, becoming childhood sweethearts in the third grade. He graduated from North Kansas City High School in 1986, where he played football and basketball, and was known for driving a vintage, blue Chevy truck. You could hear this truck coming from a few blocks away and might see it driven by the Goulding home on N. Flora every afternoon during his early high school years. Upon graduation, Kenny resumed school and completed a five-year plumbing apprenticeship, moving into the plumbing and gas fitting trade where he dedicated the next 34 years of his career. Kenny was a well-respected Foreman at P1 Group, and a proud member of Plumbers Local 8 union.

When he met Sheryl in 1976, it was puppy love at first sight. Kenny was the “boy next door” -or rather “down the street” - sweetheart to Sheryl across the years throughout grade school, early high school, and then again post college. It was simply meant to be, and family friends became family when Kenny and Sheryl married on June 11, 1994, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Together they bought their first home in the northland and within a few years started their beautiful family. First came Jake, then Annie, and Max – all growing up in the “Coves house” where the family attended St. Therese Church and Grade School. These were busy years for the family, where Kenny and Sheryl supported many sporting events, school projects, fundraisers, and auctions for the kids.

Kenny was a talented and resourceful man. He could build anything - kitchens, decks, fences, his future father-in-law’s shed at age 15, his parents’ wood floors and stairs many years later, you name it - and was masterful at carpentry, electrical and welding. He could also fix anything – from cars, dirt bikes, and all things mechanical. And naturally he was to go-to-guy for all things plumbing – generously saving family and friends countless times from disasters. And he was an excellent instructor, as these are traits he patiently taught his two sons who have inherited so many of his skill sets.

Kenny had many passions in life – he loved cars, dirt bikes, fast boats, fishing, and target shooting. Countless memories have been built with immediate and extended family and friends over the years during camping and boating weekends up at the lake, dirt bike trips with the kids, and or up at the shooting range. These memories helped shape his little “Sweet Pea”, his “Annie Boo”, into our family “Camping” leader and organizer, carrying on this love and tradition for her daughter. In 2021, Kenny and Sheryl fulfilled his dream when they purchased their current home on 60 acres of land in Lathrop, MO. It is here where Kenny would spend his final days and realize his best life alongside his family – clearing land, refurbishing multiple tractors and barns, having his own metal-working building for all his deluxe equipment, and riding ATVs with his kids and extended family. “Camp Sweetwood” is where you went to learn how to do “man” things like build a pond, fix a culvert, weld a sign, perfect your shooting aim, and ride.

But Kenny’s greatest pursuit in life was the care and support of his family. He loved his reputation for being onery and a bit cantankerous at times, but all who knew him knew of his unwavering support, and that he would have your back whenever you needed him. His many gifts included the generous gifting of his time, skills, and effort. He had pet names for his favorite people, a sly sense of humor and sometimes good jokes, a love of guitar and great southern rock and was a skilled DJ and dancer back in the day. His work, daily tasks, free time, and everything he did was guided by and in care of his wife, kids, granddaughter, and helping or supporting all his family.

“Family Forever”

Kenny was preceded in death by his brother, Timothy Sweetwood, his father-in-law Donald Goulding, and his grandparents. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Sheryl (nee Goulding) of the home; his children, Jake Sweetwood, Annie Sweetwood (Dallas), and Max Sweetwood, and his adored granddaughter Addilynn June; Parents and siblings, C.K and Mary Sweetwood, Marie Mahan, and Matthew Sweetwood; Mother-in-law Elizabeth Goulding, sisters and brothers in-law Lisa and David McCoskey, Chris and Joni Goulding, Julie and Tony Holland, and Renee Bryant; his niece and nephews who loved their “Uncle Buck” dearly: Sarah Dougherty (Pat), Angela Hazlett (Dillon), Jimmy Mahan (Emily), Josh Mahan (Rachael), Nicole DeMarco, Luke McCoskey, Charlie & Abby Goulding, Haley Bryant, Ashley Bryant, and Liam Holland. Grandnieces and nephews Nora, Parks, Charlie, Teddy, Elliet, Quincy, Knoxx, Olivia, Franki, Julianna, and Charlotte and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family would like to thank everyone for their love and support during these sudden and difficult past three months, including his brothers at P1 Group for their visits, fundraisers, and overall support of the Sweetwood family, Kansas City Hospice and nurse Karla for the care provided.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 7, 2024, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Kansas City, North, with Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 3:00 p.m. A reception will immediately follow in the parish hall where Kenny and Sheryl ate lunch together in eighth grade.

Pallbearers: Nephews Jimmy Mahan, Josh Mahan, Luke McCoskey, Charlie Goulding, and Liam Holland.