Kenneth Stout

Kenneth Oliver Stout, 83, a decorated Army veteran who later rose to prominence in the Alaska Republican Party, died May 1, 2013, at his home in Anchorage. He had been diagnosed a year ago with metastatic melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

A celebration of life will be held at the Anchorage Baptist Temple on Sunday, May 5 at 2:30 p.m., with a visitation 8-10 p.m. Saturday at Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E Street, Anchorage.

Ken was born Oct. 5, 1929 in Wheatland, Missouri and graduated from Springfield (Mo.) Senior High School in 1947. He then began his college career but quit to enlist in the U.S. Army in January 1949. He eventually earned a bachelor's degree in general education in 1964 from the University of Omaha in Omaha, Neb.

In his military career, Ken rose from the rank of Private to Lieutenant Colonel, specializing in military intelligence, with postings around the world that included Greece, Ethiopia and Okinawa, as well as several stateside assignments. He served during both the Korean and Vietnam wars. During his career, he was awarded two Bronze Stars for valor, three Legion of Merits, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Silver Stars and the Vietnamese Medal of Honor in Combat.

Ken first came to Alaska in 1971 when he was assigned to Fort Richardson. Two years later he was reassigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C. In 1974 he retired from the Army, with 27 years of service, so that he could make Alaska his permanent home.

Ken received a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 1973. He then worked several years as a professor and business manager at then-Alaska Methodist University (now Alaska Pacific University).

In 1976, Ken began a career as a real estate broker - and began a parallel career in politics, which elevated him to statewide prominence. In 1980 he was elected state chairman of the Republican Party of Alaska, a position he held until 1985. He served on President Reagan's transition team in 1980. In 2004 he was elected to a three-year term on the Anchorage Assembly.

Ken married the former Peggy Anne Benedum of Round Hill, Va. in April 1952. They raised two daughters, DeeDee and Linda. DeeDee is well-known to Alaskans as an Iditarod musher.

Ken had many interests, including private flying, boating, fishing and golf. He had an extensive collection of restored classic autos. His professional organizations included the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and the Anchorage Rotary. He was an active member of the Anchorage Baptist Temple.

Ken was preceded in death by his mother, Eula Ann Shull, and his father, Oliver Dee Stout, both of Hickory County, Mo.

Ken is survived by his wife Peggy; daughter DeeDee Jonrowe and her husband, Mike, of Willow, Alaska; daughter Linda Schultz and her husband, Keith, of Klamath Falls, Oregon; grandchildren Karla Schultz and Lt. Charles Schultz of Anchorage; and stepsister Sandy Lay of Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 230510, Anchorage AK 99523-0510.