Ronald D. Schwien was born July 22, 1936, in Denver, CO, to the late William and Bertha (Meisner) Schwien. He passed away Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at his home in rural Trego County, KS, at the age of 73.


After World War II, his family returned to WaKeeney where he graduated from Trego Community High School. He Attended Fort Hays State University, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ottawa University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in psychology and did graduate study at UCLA. He is a graduate of Cleveland Institute of Radio Electronics and was a FCC licensed commercial radio-telephone operator.


During his U.S. Air Force service, Ron was assigned to the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service and the Strategic Air Command's top-secret Command Center.

On May 27, 1956, Ron was married to LaDonna Schneider in the Methodist Church at Ransom, KS. She passed away June 27, 2007.

His thirty year AT&T career included a number of management assignments in operations and engineering departments in the Midwest, NYC, and suburban New Jersey. He authored several papers about the psychological and methodology issues in the design of the human-computer interface. He had spoken about these issues at the American Psychological Association's annual convention, Bell Telephone Labs, and Stevens Institute of Technology.

Ron completed his working years as a college instructor at two junior colleges and at Kansas State University in Salina. He served as a member of Salina's Human Relations Commission, president of his homeowners association, explorer scout advisor, and on the Special Olympics staff.


Ron is survived by a son, Mitchell Schwien and wife, Mitzi, of Kansas City, KS; three daughters, Kimberly Frederking and husband, David, of WaKeeney, Torri Roth of WaKeeney, Michele Daniels of Carlsbad, CA; ten grandchildren, Matthew Frederking and wife, Melissa, Adam Frederking, Christopher Frederking and wife, Venessa, Brian Schwien and wife, Diana, R. Daniel Roth, Jason Schwien and wife, Shannon, Joshua Schwien and wife, Jennifer, Jacob Schwien, Zacharias Daniels and Jordan Elizabeth Daniels; nine great-grandchildren, Rylee Frederking, Trinity, Draven and Ariel Roth, Adrian Schwien, Nolan and Ahnalee Schwien, David and Lydia Schwien; and a sister, Shirley Smith of Denver, CO.

Ron was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-two years, LaDonna; two grandchildren, April Leigh Frederking and John Christopher Jones; and a brother, William Grant Schwien.

Visitation for Ron will be 5-7 PM Sunday, April 25, 2010 at Schmitt Funeral Home,WaKeeney, KS.


Services will be held Monday, April 26, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. also at Schmitt Funeral Home with burial in Kansas Veterans' Cemetery at WaKeeney.


Memorials are suggested to CASE (Comprehensive Autism Services & Education) or March of Dimes and can be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.