Kenneth Robert Middleton

Sep 9, 1930 -

Apr 3, 2022

Ken Middleton passed away at home, peacefully, surrounded by family on April 3, 2022.

Born on Sept. 9, 1930, both Ken, and his sister Joan grew up in Northern California gold country, between Grass Valley and Nevada City.

Shortly after beginning basic training for the Army in Fort Ord, Calif., Ken met a beautiful young lady named Joanne from Greybull, Wyo., on a blind date. The two exchanged letters while Ken served his country in Korea. The pair married in 1954, and soon after welcomed four children: Vicki, Brian, Dirk and Margo.

After his stint in Army, Ken completed his bachelor's degree in zoology at the University of California Berkeley. Ken and Joanne relocated to Darrah Springs Fish Hatchery in Northern California, which in turn took them, and their growing family north to Alaska.

In 1960, with family in tow, Ken and Joanne arrived in Alaska, and were the first ADF&G family stationed in King Salmon. Across the ensuing decades, Ken continued his work as a fisheries' biologist, where many colleagues remarked about his professional and personal concern for his staff. His work demands during the fledging years of statehood required many weeks away from his family, especially during the busy summer season of Bristol Bay. Ken eventually retired from the State of Alaska as Regional Supervisor for Bristol Bay, Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet.

After retiring, Ken spent many days afield hunting and fishing with close friends, who had also ventured north to Alaska to make their own contributions to help build the framework for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Commercial Fisheries. Ken also established the first Bonsai Club in Anchorage, as he thoroughly enjoyed gardening. Ken and Joanne fully settled into retirement in Joanne's hometown of Greybull. After Joanne's passing in 2004, Ken later relocated once again to Alaska, in order to be closer to family, whom cared for him into his final days, after a long battle with dementia.

Ken is preceded in death by his wife, Joanne; son, Brian; and sister, Joan. He is survived by his three children, Vicki, Dirk and Margo; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 22, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska, at the Kincaid Chalet from 1-4 p.m.