Worth Kenneth "Ken" Wallerstedt

Worth Kenneth “Ken” Wallerstedt, 91, of Des Moines, IA, left this life and entered heaven to meet his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 2, 2016, at Calvin Community, after a twelve year battle with Alzheimer’s. Visitation will be on Friday, June 10, 2016, from 6 – 8 pm at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines and a celebration of life service will be on Saturday June 11, 2016 at 1:00 pm at the same location. Burial will immediately follow at McLaren’s Resthaven Cemetery.

Ken was born to Worth Axel Wallerstedt and Edith Blanche (Nutt) Wallerstedt on August 8, 1924, in the Beaverdale neighborhood of Des Moines, IA. After graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1942, Ken entered the Army Air Corps, attending pre-meteorology school. In 1944 he finished navigation school and was assigned to the 423rd AAC unit in Washington, served as navigator on a B-24, and was discharged in October, 1945. In 1947 he met Patricia Louise Byers on a blind date and they married in 1948; they eventually had four children: Steve, Karen, Karla, and Kathy. After graduating in 1949 from Iowa State University with a degree in Architecture, he worked for Tinsley, Higgins and Lighter Architects, and in 1950 built the home where they lived for 56 years. In 1952 he joined Smith, Voorhees, Jensen Architects, later becoming a firm partner. He designed and supervised numerous schools throughout Iowa, eventually retiring in 1989 from Voorhees Design Group.

From 1932 – 1936 he played in the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps; they won the national championship in 1933 at the Chicago World’s Fair. He loved model trains and planes; he started collecting stamps with his father and continued for decades, was a pilot (traveling to many of his architectural jobs by plane) and a wonderful carpenter, enjoyed gardening, genealogy, reading, and his favorite all-time food was chocolate ice cream (first job was at Reed’s Ice Cream on Forest Ave). Ken was very proud of his Swedish heritage. Genealogical research led to two special trips to Sweden in 1988 and 2004, meeting cousins and seeing ancestral sites, including the “Vallerstad” parish from which the name “Wallerstedt” came. He loved music and provided piano lessons to his daughters for more than twenty years (listening to countless hours of practice), encouraging them in their areas of music ministry. A lifelong member at First Federated Church, Ken became a Christ-follower in his early twenties. He served in many areas at church including on the Board and as Board Chairman, taught Sunday School classes, was a member of the Christian Home Builders and Friendly Fellowship classes, sang in the choir, and was very involved in the Missions Department, financially supporting many friends on the mission field. For eight years Ken and Pat opened their home to JaeKi Kwak, interpreter for Pat’s brother in the Korean War, who came to the United States after the war to attend seminary. Ken and Pat were also active with the Des Moines Christian School, especially in the formative years, with all four children attending. In retirement Ken and Pat were active with Gideons International, purchasing hundreds of memorial Bibles. They also traveled around the United States visiting family, friends and missionaries, and researching genealogical records. Ken was also involved with the Johnston Historical Society, Des Moines Genealogical Library, and was a member of the Scandinavian Club. Ken loved the mountains and camping and was especially fond of Rocky Mtn. Nat’l Park -- honeymoon destination and lifelong favorite vacation spot. In 2006 Ken and Pat moved to Calvin Community following Alzheimer’s diagnosis for both; the family is grateful to the staff for their kind and compassionate care during “our long goodbye.”

Ken’s family and many friends will forever remember his “behind-the-scenes” gifts of service. He never sought recognition for all of his acts of love, kindness, generosity and sacrifice for family and countless others. He loved his Lord and sought to follow Him. He was a faithful, loving, and loyal husband, was steadfast, consistent, quiet and wise, slow to anger, and acted with integrity, seeking the wisdom of the Lord to provide wisdom to others. He loved, supported and encouraged his children with wisdom and advice, and worked on endless home and yard projects. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered.

Ken is survived by his son, Steve (Sherrie) Wallerstedt; two daughters, Karen (Rex) Voegtlin, and Karla (Jeff) Taber; one grandson, Josh (Jessica) Taber; four granddaughters, Bethany (Dave) Stillwell, Sarah (Austin) Klassen, Rachel Taber and Jessah Taber; and five great-grandchildren, Rebekah, Jonathan, Emily and Eli Stillwell, and Brielle Taber. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, his parents, Worth and Edith, his brother, Robert, his daughter, Kathy, and his granddaughter, Christina.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Federated Church - Missions Dept., Joshua Christian Academy, or Flagstaff Mission to the Navajos. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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