Dwayne Peeples

It is with heavy hearts that we write of the passing of Dwayne Bruce Peeples. He was a well-known and respected presence in the halls of the Alaska State Legislature and Alaska State government. His ability to understand, parse out and navigate complex and often stormy political issues over the years led to many proactive, positive changes in state policy and practices that continue to this day.
Born February 2, 1951 and raised in Puget Sound, Dwayne was the youngest of three brothers. Following his older brothers into school sports and academics he was a gifted athlete and a voracious reader. After sustaining a serious high school sports injury he turned his attention from the basketball courts and football fields to the surrounding national parks and rugged Pacific Northwest coastline. He became an avid mountaineer and alpinist and an accomplished scuba and free diver. Soon the mountains and ocean were as much a home to him as the halls of Washing State University, the University of Washington, and Seattle University. While his primary academic focus was the social sciences, he possessed a true passion for history and a love of historical fiction.
After graduating in 1976 from Seattle University with a Master of Public Service degree he was drawn north to Ketchikan by a childhood friend, where a backpacking trip up Deer Mountain to Blue Lake and camping under the northern lights sealed his love of Alaska. In 1977 he moved to Juneau to work for the State of Alaska in public health policy and administration. It was there he met and fell in love with his wife of over forty years, Virginia Stonkus. Together they designed and built a house on North Douglas where they raised their two children, son Cameron and daughter Tamsen Peeples.
With the many trails and access to public lands in Juneau and throughout Southeast Alaska, he shared his deep love of backcountry camping and wilderness discoveries with his family. His passion for scuba diving also became a shared family activity. Later in life when he was personally unable to participate, Dwayne continued to encourage them to pursue expedition kayaking, mountaineering, alpine and Nordic skiing, backcountry explorations, and international travel.
Tall, broad chested with dark hair and full beard, his height and bearing could at first be imposing but his razor-sharp wit and wry sense of humor would give way to a dimpled smirk, even an occasional giggle when he thought he was being especially clever. His piercing blue eyes were always observant, thoughtful and conscientious. While Dwayne did not suffer fools lightly, those who earned his trust and respect gained his loyalty, support and unfailing friendship.
Not one to sit idle unless weighed down by a cat in his lap and a good book in hand, in his retirement he took up brewing, baking, and landscaping. He quickly became known for his amazing breads, which were gifted to and shared by many.
Dwayne passed September 27 from complications of cancer after a seven years' war with lymphoma. He is survived by his wife, two children and granddaughter in Juneau and two brothers, Clint Peeples in Port Orchard and Darrell Peeples in Olympia, Washington. A Celebration of Life will be held April 20 at the Juneau Yacht Club from 4 to 8pm.
In lieu of flowers, we encourage donations in his name to the Southeast Alaska Land Trust and The Southern Poverty Law Center. For questions, thoughts, photos, or shared memories please email Virginia at virginia.stonkus@gmail.com.
He is profoundly missed in ways that keep revealing themselves to those he loved.