Kenneth Allen Swank was born June 24, 1951, to Marion and Florence (Eckhoff) Swank, in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Ken grew up in the Peoria area, attended Lincoln Elementary School in Pella, and was a 1969 graduate of Pella Community High School. Ken served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971. He shipped off to Vietnam after he and Sue's first date. On November 25, 1972, he was united in marriage to Sue Kamerick in Des Moines. To this union they were blessed with two children: Angela and Chad.

Ken farmed with his father-in-law, but on the side he worked in construction. He loved spending time outdoors, hunting, and fishing. He raised all kinds of animals – even raccoons and skunks.  He also enjoyed grilling and cooking, but you always had to ask what it was first! He liked to "putter around" and could fix anything. He also enjoyed Western and Chuck Norris movies. He was a simple man with a kind heart who dearly loved his family.

Ken is survived by his family:

Sue Swank

Angela Kirby and Jeff Verschuure

Brooke and Michael Chamarro

Emilia

Ivelisse

Stoyn Kirby and Jacey Pringle

Skylar Kirby and Caleb Vitullo

(Ashton, Abel, Emma, Keagan, Maranda)

Chad and Amy Swank

Ellie

Stella

He is also survived by his mother-in-law Letha Kamerick, his sisters: Bonnie (Tom) Hetherington of Watsontown, Pennsylvania, and Marianne (Shawn) O'Rourke of Virginia Beach, Virginia, his brother Bob (Lynn) Swank of Richmond, Virginia, his sisters-in-law: Mary Ellen (Phil) Leach of Atlanta, Georgia, and Carol (Dave) Swank of Portage, Michigan, and several loved nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law Murray Kamerick, and his brothers: Phil Zwank and Dave Swank.

Wounded Warrior Project
7020 A.C. Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville FL 32256
Tel: 1-877-832-6997
Web: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/