Kenneth (Ken) H. Schwanz

PORTAGE -- Kenneth (Ken) H. Schwanz, age 80, passed away on Monday, May 2, 2016, at Columbia Healthcare Center in Wyocena.

Ken was born on August 3, 1935, in the Township of Lewiston, the son of Bernard and Hazel Schwanz. He was the class president and graduate of Portage High School, class of 1953. Ken left the family dairy farm and enlisted in the USAF, serving with honor and distinction from 1954 to 1962. Following his service, he had a long successful career as an Electronics Engineer.

In 2000, following the death of his first wife of 44 years, Portage native Mary Jean (Nennig) Schwanz, Ken moved back to Portage and married Mary Villavicencio, also of Portage, in September of 2002. Ken was a devoted and very active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, He was a Board of Trustee for six years, as well as member of the Gideons here in Portage.

He is survived by his present wife Mary (Villavicencio) Schwanz; sister Betty Carrington of Portage; brother Bernard (Marlene) Schwanz, Jr., of Florida; 4 children, Michael (Christine) Schwanz of Clintonville, WI, Steven (Nancy) Schwanz of High Point, NC, Jeffery (Susan) Schwanz of Aurora, CO, Jennifer (James) Marrs of Arlington; 4 step-children, David Villavicencio of Minneapolis, MN, Mark (Valerie) Villavicencio of Baraboo, Philip (Donna) Villavicencio of Sparta, NJ, Lisa (Brian) Handley of Waukesha, WI; 18 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Mary Ann and Patricia, brother Donald, and first wife Mary Jean (Nennig) of Portage.

A special thank you from all of the friends and family of Kenneth to the magnificent care and attention devoted to him by ALL of the staff at the Columbia Health Care Center at Wyocena. You are all truly a gift from God.  

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, with Rev. Greg Hovland officiating.  Military honors will be provided by the Portage Area Veteran’s Honor Guard. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church. The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Rest in peace and the comforting arms of the Almighty, Ken; we will miss your smile, your words of encouragement and the unbreakable, joyful spirit, faith and optimism you had in all of us, and in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.