Ken Bussard

Harry Kennard Bussard (Ken) was born on July 9, 1936, in Des Moines, Iowa to Lois and Harry Bussard. He was followed by his younger brother Larry five years later. Ken died on March 15, 2024, of complications of Alzheimer’s Disease at Arbor Springs in West Des Moines, IA.

The family moved to Clarinda, Iowa when Ken was in 8th grade. He loved telling stories of growing up in southwest Iowa and had a great fondness for all things Clarinda.

Ken worked his way through college and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Architecture in 1960. He was a proud member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Ken married Judy Evans, his Junior High School sweetheart, in 1958. Daughter Lisa soon followed. After graduating from Iowa State, the family moved to Alexandria, VA where Ken was an Army Lieutenant in the Corp of Engineers at Fort Belvoir. Son Kevin was born while in Virginia. In 1962 they moved to Corona Del Mar, CA where Ken worked for Blurock Architects and was on the design team for the University of California – Irvine. Son Brian was born while in California.

A phone call from a friend and fellow Iowa State grad, Jim Wilkins, moved the young family back to Iowa. Jim and Ken started Wilkins and Bussard Architects in 1966. Wilkins and Bussard evolved over the past 55+ years to what is now Renaissance Design Group (RDG), a nationally recognized architecture firm.

Ken was extremely proud of his professional career. When asked, he would say his favorite projects were the restoration of the Iowa State Capitol, the Des Moines Area Community College Master Plan, and his personal home by Walnut Woods State Park.

Ken was honored as an American Institute of Architecture (AIA) Fellow, received the Iowa AIA Gold Medal Award, and the Christian Petersen Design Award. Giving back to his community was important to Ken. He was on the Board of Directors at US Bank, the Board of Governors at Iowa State University, the National AIA Board, the AIA Peer Review Committee, and the Board of Directors at the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, to name a few. He was also a 50+ year member of Central Presbyterian Church.

Shortly after Judy’s death in 1999, Ken sold their residence in West Des Moines and moved to Door County Wisconsin where he would spend many rewarding years with his second wife, Mary. He developed valuable relationships with his “up north” friends, was a member of the Model A Ford Club, and a member of the Door County Land Trust.

After he and Mary divorced, Ken returned to Des Moines in 2015 and moved to Scottish Rite Park. His final architecture project was to gut and redesign his apartment. He would gladly show off his apartment to any, and all, prospective residents.

He was a force of nature. Passionate about education, mentoring young people, preserving historical architecture, the Green Bay Packers, the Iowa State Cyclones and saving our natural resources. He was a masterful storyteller (whether you wanted to hear the story or not), never met a stranger (sometimes to the embarrassment of his children), organized to a fault (if you knew Ken – he probably had a folder on you), a doodler (he could barely talk without a pencil in his hand), happy to share what he thought you should do (he was usually right), and most of all loved his friends and family deeply. The ravages of Alzheimer’s took his memories, but not his positive spirit.

Ken is survived by his daughter Lisa from Grimes, IA; son Kevin (Bonnie) from Orangevale, CA; son Brian (Suphisara) from Portland, OR; his brother Larry from San Juan Bautista, CA; and 2 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Judy and his parents.

The family would like to thank the staff at Scottish Rite Park, Grand Living and Arbor Springs for their compassionate care over the past several years. A special thank you to Bill and Dian Meek and the John and Cindy Russell family for their love and support.

Services will be held on Friday, March 22 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel, 801 – 19th Street in West Des Moines, Iowa. Gathering with the family will be at 9 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Life service at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Central Presbyterian Church, Des Moines IA; Suncrest Hospice, West Des Moines, IA; the Alzheimer’s Association or an organization of your choosing. Visit www.mclarensresthavenchapel.com for the Bussard family.