Kenneth R. Frye

1943 - 2017

Kenneth R. Frye, 73, passed away Dec. 23, 2016, at Swedish Cherry Hill Hospital in Seattle. He was born Nov. 21, 1943, in Maryville, Missouri. The Frye family moved to Anchorage in June 1958, because of Ken's father's employment with the FAA. In February 1959, the family transferred to Nenana, where Ken attended school and graduated in 1962.
It was at Nenana High School where Ken met the love of his life, Nancy Jauhola. After graduation, Ken spent the summer working on the river for Yutana Barge Lines. On Oct. 15, 1962, he was hired on at Clear AFS as a Teamster contractor. Ken joined the Army Reserves in 1964 and married Nancy on July 2, 1966, after her graduation from Nenana High School. Ken's Reserve unit was activated in January 1969, and he was deployed to Vietnam in September of that year. He returned home to Nenana in July 1970, and n August returned to work at Clear, where he remained employed until his retirement in December 2000, proud to have been a United States veteran and a 38-year active Teamster member.
Ken enjoyed raising his family in the Alaskan lifestyle he so loved, being an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved being a member of the Clearsky Sportsman's Club, participating in trapshooting and many other events throughout the years. Ken was an Endowment member of the NRA and a Life Member of VFW Post No. 10029. He was also very active in his community, serving on the Nenana Library Board and being the "official" caller at Bingo for Books at the school, where he was fondly known as "Papa" by all of the kids.
He and Nancy also donated much time and effort to the Marge Anderson Senior Center, in addition to supporting any and all of the school's fundraising efforts and programs for kids. Ken also liked bowling, shooting hoops and shooting targets, playing cribbage and poker with this buddies, and teaching his grandsons how to play poker and run a chain saw, amongst many other things. Taking his beautiful wife, Nancy, to dinner at the Mondo on Thursday nights was always the highlight of his week.
He was happiest when surrounded by his family and friends, regardless of the occasion. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Deloris Frye; and his brother, James Frye. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nancy; and his daughters, Kristine (Roger) Knutsen and Suzanne (Mike) Hill; as well as his grandsons, Jacob, Jordan and James Knutsen, all of Nenana.
His brother-in-law and partner in crime, Mike (Twyla) Jauhola, lives in Oregon. His surviving siblings are William (Carrie) Frye, of Florida; Joyce Frye (late brother Jim's wife), of Arizona; Lawrence (Debbie) Frye, of California; and Sheryl Boren, of Arizona.
Ken loved all of his nieces, nephews, cousins and "'nother girls" dearly. At this time, a memorial service has not been scheduled, but Ken's family would appreciate, in lieu of flowers or other mementos, donations to any Alaska VFW Post or to the USO.