Phyllis’s Dad Kenneth Hopper (“Ken”) died quietly in his sleep on Sunday following a long illness. Ken was in the second wave on the beach at Normandy, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and was a prisoner of war in Germany. He had worked in Alaska in the 1950s, and fulfilled a long-time dream by visiting Pitcairn Island. He was married for over fifty years to Barbara.

Ken had a sometimes gruff exterior. Paradoxically, at his core Ken was a gentle and sweet man. He loved his family. He had true serenity and great faith in his God. He will be missed.

This photo shows Ken giving Barbara, Phyllis, and our kids (Ken’s grandchildren) a tour around his land in Arizona in his electric cart a little over a year ago.

Related stories: Birthday Boy, Phoenix Roundtrip.