Kenneth M. Folks Kenneth M. Folks was born on June 9, 1945, in Iowa Falls, Iowa, and passed away on September 10, 2022. He was the son of Kenneth H. and Wanda Folks of Alden, Iowa. Ken graduated from Alden High School in 1963 and attended Marshalltown Community College. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967, stationed in Germany. A dedicated employee and proud member of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Ken worked at Emerson (Fisher) Controls in Marshalltown, Iowa, until his retirement in 2000. Ken was passionate about the outdoors, enjoying camping, fishing, and crafting fishing lures. He also had a talent for woodcrafts, making a large community of birdhouses. Before his passing, Ken and Sherry enjoyed riding recumbent trikes on various trails in Iowa.
Sherry (Bell) Folks Sherry Bell was born on May 6, 1946, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to S. Louise and W.H.S. Bell. She graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1964 and received her AA and AS degrees from Marshalltown Community College. Sherry also dedicated many years of her career to Emerson (Fisher) Controls, retiring in 1995. She continued her career working at Central Iowa Residential Services, Inc., and Mid-Iowa Workshops in Marshalltown until her retirement in 2001. Sherry remains an active volunteer for the ARC of Marshall County, Iowa, helping individuals of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities reach their full potential. She is also a proud member of the UAW.
Marriage and Shared Interests Ken and Sherry were married on August 1, 1974, during an employee strike at Fisher Controls. Despite the challenging circumstances, they were able to purchase their first home and basic furniture. They shared a love for the outdoors and made their first purchase of a canoe, enjoying an affordable honeymoon at Iowa's Backbone State Park with their new canoe and a backpack tent. Their shared passions extended to ISU athletics, especially wrestling and football.
Scholarship Purpose The Kenneth & Sherry Folks Scholarship aims to support students who demonstrate care and concern for others, reflecting the values that Ken and Sherry held dear throughout their lives. While academic success is important, this scholarship particularly values recipients who embody compassion and dedication to community service.