Kenneth Robert Swartz

Kenneth Swartz was born in Flint, Michigan to Stanford and Betty Swartz on March 22, 1946. The family moved to Phoenix, Arizona when Ken was about 4 years old due to Ken’s father Stan’s need for a dryer climate.

The family lived in West Phoenix for many years where Ken attended various grade schools, graduating from Alhambra High School in 1963 at the age of 17. Ken enlisted in the Air Force and served from 1964 to 1968, during the Viet Nam war era where he worked in ground power on the flight line. He attained the rank of sergeant by his discharge and his favorite duty while serving was to drive the ground power equipment out on the flight line in the evenings and watch the jets land and take off over his head on the runway.

Following his discharge from the Air Force, he was married to his first wife, Linda, a relationship which produced his first son Vince. In 1978 Ken was remarried to his present wife, Pat, who had two sons, Rob and David. The blended family lived in West Phoenix. Ken was now a father and stepfather to three sons. Learning to negotiate that role was both difficult and challenging. It required patience, which Ken had to develop over the years and learning to adapt to a different culture as he became invested in church life, a new transition for him.

Ken was employed at Az. Dept of Transportation, beginning as a draftsman in the right-of-way department and was then recruited and trained to be their IT person. In that position he maintained 150 computers, writing programs, and training employees. Ken eventually became the office manager of the Right-of-Way department at ADOT. He worked for 30 years at ADOT, retiring in 2001 and going on to become a consultant for an additional three years.

In 1978 when Ken remarried, he joined Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church and immediately was recruited to become the Financial Secretary where he served for a year in that position. This was the first of many positions he served in over the years in the church. As time went on he served as Vice President, President, and Elder in the church, also serving on many committees throughout the years, including on the building committee, both at Christ Redeemer church in Phoenix and at Peace Lutheran Church in Flagstaff. As he served in the various positions in his church, his faith increased and he grew as a Christian. His faith was the bedrock for the values he came to believe in and it influenced the direction his life took over the years.

Six years ago Ken was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a progressive disease which required numerous surgeries, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy. He was in and out of remission over the years, the cancer coming back again and again, taking its toll over time until he finally succumbed to complications from the treatments and many underlying conditions on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Ken will be missed by both family and friends. His life serves as an example of how God works in our lives to give purpose and meaning in a world too often focused only on material success. He knew life also consisted of upholding values and serving God in whatever ways He opened up to each of us.

“well done, good and faithful servant.”