Obituary for Kenneth John Buck

Kenneth John Buck, 68, of Marshalltown, died September 24, 2022, at Iowa River Hospice

House from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He set foot into the glories of heaven just 16

days after his father.

A celebration of Ken’s life will be held at Journey Church, 700 E. Olive, Marshalltown, at 7 pm

Monday, September 26. It will be live-streamed at www.facebook.com/

JourneyChurchMarshalltown and will be available there afterwards.

Ken was born in Marshalltown November 1, 1953, to John Jaroleman Buck and Lois (Nason)

Buck. He had three sisters, two older, one younger. He attended Rhodes Elementary School,

always claiming that he was a Rhodes Scholar. He excelled in academics, played the clarinet,

the guitar, and ragtime on the piano, sang in All State Music Festival two years, and was known

as an all-around nice guy. He graduated from West Marshall High School in 1972.

Following graduation from Iowa State University, Ken joined the staff of Campus Crusade for

Christ and was a missionary teaching agriculture and Bible in Nigeria where he met his wife for

life, Betsy Antle. They were married January 24, 1981, in Peoria, Illinois, and enjoyed 41 years

together.

Ken returned to Iowa in 1983 to farm with his father, raising crops, hogs, and cattle. He and

Betsy raised two children on the farm, Jennifer and Timothy. After farming 25 years he worked

in home repair/construction with his son for five years. Following retirement he enjoyed

travelling with Betsy, winters in Florida, woodworking, and spending time with their

grandchildren.

Ken was known as a Bible teacher and also travelled around Iowa and beyond giving seminars

with Walk Thru the Bible. He was active in leadership at First Baptist/Journey Church.

Left to remember his godly legacy are his daughter Jennifer (Michael) Smith, Rockford, Illinois,

and his son Tim (Kristianne) Buck, Marshalltown, and four grandchildren, Evelynn, Lyla, and

Eliana Buck and Ethan Smith; his sisters Jan (Karl Pedersen) Buss of Virginia, Joyce Buck of

Marshalltown, and Jean (Terry) Meyer-Scott of Colorado; and his father’s widow Patricia Buck

and her four children. Ken also grew up with 28 close cousins, 22 of them boys, who shared in

many shenanigans on the farm. They all survive him.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lois, in 1993 and his father, John, in 2022.

Memorials may be designated to Journey Church Youth Ministry, Iowa River Hospice, or the

Alzheimer’s Association for research.