Kenneth E Salzwedel
June 26, 1933 - October 23, 2019

Kenneth E. Salzwedel, 86, of Burlington, died, 10/23/2019. He was the son of Ralph E. and Hazel I ( Noble ) Salzwedel. Ken was born in St. Louis June 26 1933, at home. Due to the economy, right after the Great Depression, his family moved often to find work. He attended seven different schools in the first eight years. His father died while he was in the eighth grade. His mother moved them to St. Charles, Mo., where he attended 9th & 10TH grades. They moved to Wapello, Ia. where his mother was from, and graduated there in 1951.
Ken served in the army in '53 & '54, being stationed at army headquarters in Hawaii as an MP. Ken met Betty L. Archibald in 1956 while riding motorcycles in Burlington, and they were married June 16, 1957. He knew she was his true soul-mate.
Ken was a mechanical engineer and an avid motorcyclist from age 16 until his eyesight dimmed at age 80. He and Betty rode into almost every state, and took month long trips, including a trip to Alaska in '08. He worked at IRC/TRW for 18 years, Bourns (in California) for 2 years, as a Harley-Davidson dealer for 10 years, and 18 years at PRP in Mediapolis, Ia.
Ken used his engineering skills to improve several motorcycle designs. He designed and built one of the first hard luggage trunks for the back of a touring motorcycle in 1960. He built a custom bike with a Simca four-cylinder engine, covering it with fiberglass. It was featured in Cycle World magazine in Dec. '68. He also built a Harley powered Superglide from a wrecked '67 FLH. Ken was also paid by Harley-Davidson for his idea of a shifter shaft thru the front chain case, greatly improving the design.
Surviving are his wife, three children, Wayne, of Burlington, Michael (Jolene), of New London, and Wanita Holmes, of Gilbert, AZ., four grandchildren, two step grandchildren, three great grandchildren, two sisters, Janice Hoehle and husband Dean of Wapello, and Elaine Gurda of Apache Junction, AZ.
He was preceded in death by his parents & step father, John Bazel, and oldest sister, Marjorie Aubuchon.
He was a member of the Heritage Baptist Church.
The funeral service for Ken will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 26th at Heritage Baptist Church. Pastor Brad Cranston will officiate. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Friends may call from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 25th at Lunning Chapel. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
A memorial has been established.

Tributes