Kenneth Alvin Swaney (2009)
BURNSIDE, CLEMENTS, HAHN, OTHEN, SWANEY, VOGT, WILSON
Posted By: Mary Welty Hart
Date: 3/29/2009 at 16:20:31
Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
Sunday, March 29, 2009KENNETH ALVIN SWANEY, Baxter
Ken passed away on March 27th, 2009, at the Baxter Health Care Center, Baxter, Iowa. Born on August 6, 1922, Ken was the youngest of four children born to Jay and Lula (Burnside) Swaney. He was raised on the Swaney family dairy farm east of Grinnell and enjoyed showing the family Jersey cows during his youth. He was an outstanding high school athlete playing both football and basketball until graduating Grinnell High in 1941.
A WW II veteran, Ken enlisted and served in the US Army Air Corp. from 1941 - 1945. He flew over 80 missions as a B-26 bomber pilot while stationed with 387th Bombardment Group in Essex, England. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal and Silver Star for his service. There he met and married, Sybil Ruth Othen, on June 15, 1944. They have two children, son, Eric (Rick) A. Swaney of Winona, MN, and daughter, Janet K. Clements of Des Moines.
After the War, Ken returned to his love for farm and livestock in the Grinnell area, later moving to Winterset in 1964 to manage a 1000 acre pure bred Herford cattle ranch. In 1971, Ken relocated to Johnston as a herdsman with Pioneer Beef Cattle and retired from Pioneer H-Bred in 1996 as Chief of Security for Green Meadows. Sybil passed away in 1990 after a courageous battle with COPD.
Ken married his present wife, Betty A Wilson, on August 11, 1991. After retirement, they enjoyed camping, traveling, spending winters in Arizona and summers in Iowa.
Ken was a good man, kind, caring husband, father, and grandfather with a heart filled with love for us all. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Ken is survived by his wife, Betty; son, Eric (Joanne) Swaney; daughter, Janet Clements; grandchildren, Eric (Lisa), Chad (Jenifer), and Kenney Swaney, Laura and Frank Clements; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Noah, and Isaac Swaney; step-sons, David (Jennifer), Darrell (Theresa) and Dennis (Lynda) Wilson, 15 step- grandchildren; twelve step- great-grandchildren; two nephews; two nieces; and many friends.
Ken was preceded in death by wife, Sybil; parents, Jay and Lula Swaney; brother, Harold Swaney; sisters, Dorothy Vogt and Laura Hahn.
Per Ken's request, following a family viewing his body has been cremated. His ashes will be interred with a graveside service at the Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell, Iowa at a later date.
Ankeny Funeral Home and Crematory
Gravesite
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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