Kay Austin Schwendiman

Kay Austin Schwendiman, affectionately known by family and friends as "GP", age 93, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kay was born on June 24, 1921, in Auckland, New Zealand, to Fred W. Schwendiman and Lillian A. Schwendiman, who were serving an LDS mission in New Zealand at the time. Kay was born into the service of the church, a lifelong commitment that defined his life. He attended South High School and graduated from the University of Utah. He served his country as an officer in the U.S. Army in the Philippines during World Ward II, in Japan during the occupation following the war, and as a chaplain during the Korean conflict. He served as a chaplain of the 96th ARCOM during reserve service that covered nearly thirty years. He retired with the rank of colonel in 1978 after 34 years of Active and Reserve service. Kay was a member of the LDS Church Military Relations Committee for 28 years; following that he served for 15 years as an Adviser to the Military Relations Division. Kay devoted many years of service to the LDS church as a missionary in Argentina, as the Bishop of the Canyon Rim Ward, as a member of the Stake Presidency of the Canyon Rim Stake, as a Regional Representative, and as a devoted home teacher. He was also the endorsing agent for the chaplains for the LDS church for a number of years both before and following his retirement. Kay was also a master printer and respected leader of the printing industry of Utah. He started Utah Printing Co. with his father and continued his professional life as manager of Deseret Printing and Publishing, finishing his career as the Associate Managing Editor of the Deseret News. He was President of the Printing Industry of America. He retired from the Deseret News in 1985 but continued his involvement in the printing industry as a member of the board of York Printing, York, Pennsylvania. He was an eager supporter of the preservation of the history of printing in Utah throughout his life. Kay was a devoted husband, father, and brother, and a proud grandfather and great grandfather. He gave all he had every day to caring for his son Kirk Michael Schwendiman during the 36 years of Kirk's difficult life. He was a long time devoted fan of the University of Utah football, basketball, and gymnastics teams. Attending gymnastic meets with his beloved wife well into their eighties, following the careers and lives of every woman gymnast as if they were their own children. He enjoyed every minute of the time he could give to his grand children and great grand children. In his later years, even into his nineties, he lived for the trips to Alaska to fish with his son, Rex and son-in-law Mike Berry, and their children. The entire family ate grandpa's fish from those expeditions. He is preceded in death by his wife of over sixty years, Beverly, his father, mother, his brothers Fred and Mark, and his son Kirk. He is survived by his sister Joan Sharp, his sons David (Barbara), Rex (Beatriz), his daughter Beth Ann (Michael Berry), 10 grand children and 19 great grand children.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Saturday,  January 10, 2015 at the Canyon Rim First Ward, 3000 South Grace Street (3100 East). Friends may visit with the family on Friday evening from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, and at the church on Saturday morning from 9:30am to 10:30am prior to services at the church. Interment: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. Online memories and tributes can be sent to the family at: www.HolbrookMortuary.com