Ken Gilchrist

Kenneth Gilchrist passed away at Holland Farms in Norwalk, Iowa on 26 December 2025. Born 23 December 1930 in Pocahontas, Iowa, as the 12th of 16 children, he emerged before his twin brother Keith. These brothers were the third set of twins in the family, followed by a set of triplets.

In the early 1940s, the family moved to Des Moines, where Ken graduated from the Technical High School with a focus on printing. He worked at Acme printing before serving in the Air Force 1951-53 and continued as a printer in Des Moines after his military discharge.

Ken loved researching genealogy, traveling, and sports. His genealogical research led him on cherished trips to Isle of Whithorn, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, Scotland; London, Canterbury, and villages around Kent, England; Cape Cod, Plymouth, and other areas of the eastern US. Ken’s love of fishing took him to Alaska with his high school friend, Bob Clemenson. Before traveling to Alaska, however, were many summers in the 1960s and 70s fishing with his children at Okoboji. From 1969 onwards, Ken selflessly raised his three children on his own, working two jobs, and continually sacrificing himself to keep them in Converse and Levis—but more: he was both mother and father, encourager, healer, cook, carpenter, mechanic, and the absolutely best father.

He is survived by his daughters, Vicky (Rodger) McKim and Joni (Paul) Moede; son, KJ (Joni) Gilchrist; grandson, Mark Cluney; two great-grandchildren, Eastwood and Paloma Cluney; and sister, Janice McMahan.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, James and Arrah; twin brother, Keith; 13 other siblings; and grandson, Michael Moede.

A funeral will be held Friday, January 2, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave, Des Moines with burial following at Highland Memorial Gardens Cemetery, one NE 60th Ave, Des Moines. .

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Food Bank of Iowa in loving memory of Ken Gilchrist.

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