Bruce R. Kennedy

Bruce R. KENNEDY October 11, 1938 ~ June 28, 2007 It was Thursday night, June 28, when Bruce Kennedy, piloting his Cessna 182, left this life in a landing accident at Cashmere, WA. A spectacular sunset was the backdrop for Bruce's final flight into the hands of His loving God. Left to mourn his passing are his wife, Karleen; son, Kevin and his wife, Kelley, their children, Hallie and Braden of Wenatchee, WA; his daughter, Rev. Karin Kennedy Hejmanowski and her husband, Ken of Sunnyvale, CA; and two brothers, Charles of Anchorage and Keith of Denver, as well as extended family, a church family, colleagues in business, fellow volunteers, and a host of friends around the globe. Bruce was born in Denver and lived during WWII in Colorado, Texas, and Kansas with his parents, Roger & Jean Kennedy and two brothers, Charles and Keith. It was when Bruce was in high school that their father's work as a civil engineer took the family to the Eklutna Project near Palmer, Alaska. Bruce returned "Outside" to finish high school, attend junior college, work for a while, and meet his wife-to-be. But the call of Alaska was clear and he went North again the year Alaska gained statehood. In Fairbanks Bruce graduated from the University of Alaska, received his ROTC commission, and served two years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army artillery at Fort Wainwright. It was during that same time that he worked long hours with Northern Alaska Development Company, a small group of U of A students who were involved in real estate development. That company eventually took over Alaska Airlines where Bruce served twelve years as Chairman, President, and CEO. Bruce married Karleen Isaacson in 1965. Their children, Kevin and Karin, were born in Fairbanks. The family moved to Seattle in 1973 to serve with Alaska Airlines. Since 1975 they have been involved in resettling refugees from Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Bruce was an elder at John Knox Presbyterian Church in Normandy Park. Bruce stepped down from his positions at Alaska Airlines in 1991 intent on doing Christian volunteer work. He continued to serve Alaska Airlines as a member of the Board of Directors until the time of his death. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Crista Ministries, the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and other Christian ministries. His great passion for the past six years has been Quest Aircraft Co., of which he served as chair, its purpose being to design and certificate the "Kodiak" airplane for mission flying in remote areas of the world. (questaircraft.com). A Memorial Service of Worship will be held at John Knox Presbyterian Church on Friday, July 6, 109 Normandy Road in Normandy Park at 2:00 p.m. Memorial website: BruceKennedy.memory-of.com.