Kenneth Arndt

May 19, 1925 – Aug. 16, 2019

Kenneth Arndt, born May 19, 1925, flew off into the Sunset for the last time on Aug. 16, 2019 at the age of 94.

He was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was assigned to active duty in January 1943 at the age of 17 and served as a rear gunner in a Douglas Dauntless Divebomber on Midway and Majuro Islands until the war ended in 1945.

After the war Kenneth met and fell in love with Shirley C Thoms. They married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 11/8/47. Ken, Shirley and children moved to Homer, Alaska in 1958. Ken acquired his pilots license, started Arndt Bros and built 27 different airports around the State of Alaska with many local jobs included building the Pratt Museum, Fishing Hole on the spit, and constructing the Homer Water and Sewer systems.

In September 1998, Ken experienced engine trouble on take off and went down in his plane in Kachemak Bay. After treading water for 47 minutes he was rescued by Jose De Creeft and made a full recovery. In 2011 Kenneth suffered a traumatic hemorrhagic stroke while touring the Lower 48 which left him paralyzed and unable to walk.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Shirley; four children, Susie Hokkanen, Quinten Arndt, Randy Arndt, of Homer and Kristal McAtee of Missouri; 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Ewald and Norma; sister, Audrey; two brothers, Don and Ralph; and a great-granddaughter, Ember, in 2004.

Ken Arndt’s Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Oct. 19, 2019 at Glacierview Baptist Church in Homer, where Ken has been a member since 1959.