07/16/2007
Dr. Kenneth Hubert McKay of Davenport died peacefully in his sleep on July 16, 2007,
at Genesis Medical Center, West Campus, in Davenport after a courageous battle with
lung cancer. He was 80 years old. Ken, a native Iowan, was born May 2, 1927, in Osceola to Kenneth
and Vera (Schaffer) McKay and spent his youth in Knoxville.
For 56 years, he was the beloved husband of Joan (Sywassink) McKay; he was also the loving father of
Meredith, Alison, and Michele. After 18 months of service with the U.S. Navy (1945-46),
Ken attended the University of Iowa where he received his BA degree in 1948 and
his MD degree in 1952.
He later completed his general surgery residency training
at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Ken’s distinguished career as a general surgeon
began in Muscatine where he practiced for several years with his father-in-law,
Dr. G.A. Sywassink.
In 1961, Ken, Joan, and their three daughters moved to Davenport,
where Ken practiced general surgery with great distinction for over 30 years. During
the 1970s Ken was Vice-President, then President, of St. Luke’s Hospital; he also
served as Chief of Surgery.
In 1975, Ken also served as President of the Scott County
Medical Society. Ken practiced and served as Chief of Surgery at Mercy Hospital
in Davenport beginning in 1983.
After retirement from his general surgery practice, Ken helped plan and was the
first director of the Center for Breast Health at Genesis. In 1995, Ken received
the Award of Hope in recognition of his services at the Center. In addition to his
years of service to the community as a physician, Ken served the community through
his active membership at the First Presbyterian Church in Davenport.
Throughout his life, Ken was a devoted and (sometimes) frustrated Iowa Hawkeye fan; he loved
to cheer and (sometimes) jeer his Hawkeyes at home football and basketball games.
Another of Ken’s lifelong loves was fishing. His three sons-in-law and his good
fishing buddy, Buzz Finn, will dearly miss Ken, as well as their departed friends,
Jim Holte and Al Swearingen, on their annual fishing trips to Leach Lake in Minnesota.
Ken is survived by his wife, his three daughters, and his sons-in-law, Meredith and Dan
Ellard of Bettendorf, Alison and David Elmquist of Dallas, Texas, and Michele and
Dan Meracle, of Wheaton, Ill.; his seven beloved grandchildren who affectionately
called him Papa; his brother, Dr. Richard McKay of Davenport.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Robert McKay. A memorial
service for Ken will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Davenport on Friday,
July 27 at 11 a.m. Prior to the service, the family will greet friends and family
at the church in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 9 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Foundation,
the Genesis Health Services Foundation, the University of Iowa Foundation, or the
charity of your choice. Weerts Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Dr. McKay’s obituary
at weertsfh.com.