A celebration of Ken’s life was held at Journey Church on Monday with Pastor Jacob Rahrig officiating. It is available to view at www.facebook.com/JourneyChurchMarshalltown.

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 wife Betsy (Antle) Buck, 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.