J.W. "Bill" Schwenk Iii

Joseph William Schwenk, III, 66, Kansas City, MO, passed away at home November 7, 2011. He was born in Kansas City, MO, on June 22, 1945 to Naomi Catherine Dawson Schwenk and Joseph William Schwenk, Jr., who both preceded him in death. Bill was a fifth-generation resident of Jackson County and grew up in Independence where he attended McCoy Elementary School and graduated from William Chrisman High School. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Oklahoma where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
In 1968, J.W. entered the family business founded by his grandfather, Schwenk Sheet Metal (Schwenk Incorporated), a sheet metal fabricating company specializing in installation of air handling equipment, where he served as a co-owner, secretary/treasurer, and chairman of the board.

Beginning in 1983, he embarked upon a career as a licensed investment broker and registered financial consultant. In these endeavors, he took pride in establishing long-term relationships with his clients through the challenge of developing personalized, flexible, and financially stable portfolios. Equally important to J.W. in his work were the personal relationships that evolved from his personal interest in his clients’ needs. He worked for Wells Fargo Advisors for the past ten years.

J.W. was appointed by Governor Christopher Bond as a member of Jackson County Sports Authority, in which capacity he served as its treasurer. He was also appointed the governor’s representative on the University of Missouri – Kansas City Trustees. He served for many years as chairman of the Sheet Metal Contractors Pension Fund Trustees. He was a member of and served as secretary of the University Club. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the American Royal. Prior to his illness, he served on the board of the ALS Association Keith Worthington Chapter. He was also a member of the Carriage Club, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club, and the Jackson County Historical Society.

A gentle ethical man known for his integrity, tact, and thoughtfulness, he had a unique sense of humor. He was a Oklahoma Sooners football fan and avid supporter of his much-loved granddaughters’ soccer and basketball games, art shows, recitals, and regularly defended his 35-year championship score in the highly competitive family Liverpool rummy card game.

He leaves a legacy of honesty, integrity, kindness, family solidarity, and the courage to persevere during times of adversity to his beloved high school classmate and wife of 46 years, Sarah "Sally" Fullerton Schwenk, his two daughters Anne E. Schwenk and Katherine L. Schwenk-Runels, son-in-law Brian Runels, and grandaughters Linden E. Runels and Kendal E. Runels. He is also survived by his brother Gary L. Schwenk; nephews, Michael and Richard Schwenk; and niece, Michele Morrisey. Also mourning the loss of his presence and care is his brother-in-law, H. Reed Fullerton, Jr., and sisters-in-law, Margaret Tacy Fullerton Groves and Ruth Hunt Schwenk.