Kenneth R. Beswick 77, of Lake Zurich, IL, formerly of Morrison, and Erie, IL, died Monday, March 30, 2020, at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, IL.
Ken was born on September 16, 1942, in Morrison to Dewitt K. and Violetta M. (Humphrey) Beswick He was educated in the Malvern and Hiddleson Grade Schools of rural Whiteside County and was a graduate of Morrison High School. He married Gayle E. Horning in Anamosa, IA, and in April 2019 they celebrated their 60-year anniversary surrounded by family. Ken first farmed in the Morrison area and also worked as a carpenter. He then farmed in the Erie area from 1963 to 2017. He was a member of 4-H and FFA while growing up and later became a 4-H leader, serving for 25 years. Ken loved running chains for his boys’ high school football games and ardently cheered at his daughters’ basketball and volleyball games. He was a member of the Morrison and Erie United Methodist Churches, the Whiteside County Livestock Feeders Association, and Whiteside County Pork Producers. He served on the Board of Directors of Garden Plain Mutual Insurance and Black Hawk Mutual Insurance. He was also a longtime member of the ASCS Board, serving as President for many years. Ken also served as a Newton Township Trustee. In 1971, Ken was named “Outstanding Young Farmer” for Whiteside County and runner-up for the State of Illinois “Outstanding Young Farmer” honor. Three years later he was named the County’s Conservation Farmer of the Year.
Ken was a skilled designer, carpenter, and woodworker. He enjoyed genealogy and traveling the United States and abroad; two of his favorite places to visit were Glacier National Park and France. He and Gayle also hosted and later visited two foreign exchange students. Both Ken and Gayle spent many happy days at their cabin on the Mississippi River. They enjoyed their time wintering at Blue Parrot Resort in Lady Lake, FL, where he played shuffleboard, horseshoes, and drank coffee and ate donuts with many friends. He also enjoyed spending time in Morrison and Florida visiting with his dad and stepmother Betty (Dykema) Beswick and stepsiblings Mary, Judy, Bill, and Doug. After moving from the farm, Ken and Gayle’s time at Saddlebrook in Grayslake, IL, was spent meeting neighbors, riding their trikes around the community, playing cards, and watching wildlife on the lake from their back porch. His recent time at Cedar Lake Assisted Living was filled with new friends and prowess at Jeopardy! But he remained grateful for his lifelong connection with his high school classmates.
Survivors include sons, Rick (Paula) Beswick of Bozeman, MT, and Mitch Beswick of Greenville, SC; daughters, Diane (Jeff) Vail of Palatine, IL, and Lori (Kevin) Clark of Long Grove, IL; nine grandchildren, Haley Vail-Adams (Joey Adams) of Clearwater, FL, Sydney (Colton) Crayne of Greer, SC, Brianna Beswick of Anchorage, AK, Spencer Beswick of Ithaca, NY, Christian Vail of Arlington Heights, IL, Caleb Vail of Palatine, IL, and Jackson, James, and Jayson Clark of Long Grove, IL; two great-grandchildren, Violet Vail DeBaker and Elijah Crayne; sisters, Karen Howe of Arlington Heights and Jane Wilson of Roanoke, VA; brother, Don (Peggy) Beswick of Morrison.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Spud and Vi, and wife, Gayle ( on November 14, 2019.)
The family plans to host a memorial visitation and memorial service at a later date.
Memorial donations may be directed to the Parkinson’s Foundation parkinsons.org. Please include Mitch Beswick’s email addess, mitchbeswick@yahoo.com, so the family is aware of the donation.