Kenneth Beach

KENNETH E. BEACH

Cedar Rapids

Kenneth E. Beach died peacefully in his Phoenix, Ariz., home on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, at age 79.

Ken is survived by his wife of 60 years, Judy; his sons, Kenneth M. Beach (Anne), Colorado Springs, Colo., and David A. Beach, (Jeannette) Gilbert, Ariz.; his sister, Carolyn Beach, Boulder, Colo.; grandchildren, Kate, Sam, Peter, Bailey and Joshua Beach; niece, Krista Ailey; and nephew, Ryan Brooks.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Bonnie Brooks; and brother-in-law, Dennis Brooks.

Ken was born Sept. 9, 1936, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Eleanor and Paul Beach. He graduated from Boulder High School in Boulder (1954) and attained an associate's degree from Metropolitan State College in Denver.

He married Judy Zuhn on Dec. 18, 1955, in Cedar Rapids. The couple attended grade school together. They were childhood neighbors and friends. He was employed by Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids until the family moved to Denver, in 1965, where he was employed by Honeywell Inc. The family resided in Denver for 17 years before moving to Phoenix in 1982, where he was employed by Honeywell Aerospace Division. He retired in 1998. He served in the both the Iowa and Colorado Air National Guard.

While residing in Cedar Rapids he was an active and dedicated member of Kenwood Park Presbyterian Church.

For a number of years he had been a regular hospital volunteer until declining health no longer permitted him to serve. In retirement, he loved to play golf and was a skilled woodworker.

He will be especially remembered for his tremendous courage during the past five years as his health declined and limited his participation in all the activities he loved so much.

A service in celebration of his life is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 10, in Phoenix.