Ray Schwenke

Ray Schwenke
March 18, 1932 - April 05, 2005
Sigourney, Iowa
Memorial Service: 10:30 a.m. April 09, 2005 at Sigourney United Methodist Church
Visitation: 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. April 08, 2005 at Sigourney United Methodist Church
Interment: April 09, 2005 at Pleasant Grove Cemetery
SIGOURNEY-Ray Schwenke, Jr., age 73, of Sigourney, died Tuesday, April 5, 2005, at his home following a courageous battle with brain cancer. Ray was born March 18, 1932, in South Plank Township, Keokuk County, Iowa, to Ray and Evelyn (Conklin) Schwenke. He grew up in the Sigourney area and graduated from Sigourney High School in 1950. Ray was drafted by United States Army in 1953 and served during the Korean Conflict, being discharged in 1954. On June 21, 1958 he married Kay Lasley at the Hedrick United Methodist Church. The couple made their first home in Farson, moved to Keota in 1964 and then to Sigourney in 1980. Ray was a hog buyer for 36 years with John Morrell and Swift, retiring in 1994. He also did realty work in Keota and Sigourney and was a part-time farmer who practiced soil and wildlife conservation. Ray was a member of the Sigourney United Methodist Church, American Legion Post #19 and the Lancaster Heritage Foundation. He also was a past member of the Keota City Council and past president of Lagos Acres Country Club in Keota. Ray was the recipient of Keokuk County Conservation Awards and enjoyed fishing, restoring antiques and tractors, woodworking, auctions and his family, especially his grandchildren. Survivors include his wife Kay of Sigourney; three sons: Eric and wife Melody of Sigourney, Alex and wife Pam of Sigourney and Aaron of Cedar Rapids; six grandchildren: Bryan, Ryne, Kory, Colton, Megan and Madison Kaye; two brothers: Charles and wife Jackie of LeClaire, Iowa and Tom of Golden, Colorado; three sisters: Geraldine Greiner of Keota, Gloria Milliken of Oskaloosa and Gayle Nasser of Cairo, Egypt; one brother-in-law: John Rios of Coralville and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Herman and sister Gladys Rios. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2005, at the Sigourney United Methodist Church with Rev. John Hembry officiating. Burial will be at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Sigourney, with military rites by the Lacey Kerr V.F.W. Post #2308 and American Legion Post #19. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 8, 2005, at the church, where the family will be present from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the Sigourney Public Library Building Project, Lake Belva Deer, the Sigourney United Methodist Church and Hospice of Keokuk County. Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service in Sigourney is handling the arrangements.