Obituary of Alon Stemler

Born November 4, 1937 in Mitchell, South Dakota. Survived by wife Deanna, daughters Darla Stemler and Jeanine Watts, son Mark Clippinger, a sister Marsha Stemler and brothers Jerry and Tim. Interment will be in Colorado Springs, CO where Ken and Deanna resided several years and is still home to family members.Raised in South Dakota, his parents were also born in South Dakota; Ken attended a number of schools during his father's frequent relocations working for the U. S. Corp of Engineers and various contractors as a surveyor in the construction of air bases, earthen dams and highways. Ken graduated from high school in Yankton, S.D. in 1956. He participated in the school 50th year reunion in 2006.After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, attended a number of Air Force schools and was assigned to the Strategic Air Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE. Following military service he was employed by Frontier Airlines in Denver, CO, and over a 17 year period was assigned to various marketing management positions, later becoming assistant to the president of the airline. Also during that time he graduated from an aviation school formerly located in Denver. He became a licensed multi-engine commercial pilot but chose to continue in airline management rather than a professional pilot. In 1976, he was recruited to manage elements of a sports organization where he created various new programs including designing and developing the organization's headquarters and museum located in Colorado Springs. In 1986, he started a publishing and sports marketing company that among other activities published magazines and newspapers for various sports organizations including several Olympic governing bodies. He also operated a travel agency and produced special events.He and Deanna were married in 1986.In 1995, Ken and Deanna sold their businesses and were led to seek a way to serve God. Ken, several years earlier in an extraordinary health related experience (which was the precursor to this lung disease) was introduced to the Lord Jesus Christ. He prayed for God's forgiving grace and accepted Christ's death on the cross as his salvation and began a personal relationship with Jesus. Deanna, having been raised in a Christian home, was an encourager in Ken's spiritual growth and in their walk with the Lord. After committing his life to Christ, he stayed active in business and began to travel to Russia and other areas with The Navigators and Campus Crusade for Christ and became active in community Christian outreaches. In 1993, as a full time staff associate with The Navigators Christian mission teams, he and Deanna participated in ministry activities and outreach with airline personnel by moving to Phoenix and later Dallas. In 1998, they moved to Fredericksburg, TX believing they might serve the Lord with an aviation themed Christian youth camp supported by Christian airline personnel. Ken accepted a temporary position as pastoral assistant at the First Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, and served there for over a year. The camp plans were shelved following the September 11, 2001 terrorist event which distressed the airline industry and funding and careers in aviation diminished.Ken, assisted by Deanna, in retirement encouraged young people in a relationship with Jesus Christ by involving them in his love for aviation while living a Christian life. He invited teenagers to work with him in building and flying radio controlled airplanes, and he used that time to share his commitment to God. He and Deanna were members of Faith Baptist Church of Fredericksburg, TX.A visitation will beheld at 1:00PM Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at Lighthouse Baptist Church, 4280 Hopeful Drive, Colorado Springs, CO followed by a funeral service at 2:00PM.Ken will be buried at Evergreen Cemetery, 1005 S. Hancock Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO.Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Cemetery Tuesday, October 18, 2011 12:00AM Evergreen Cemetery 1005 Hancock Expressway Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone: 719-578-6646 Visitation Tuesday, October 18, 2011 1:00PM - 2:00PM Lighthouse Baptist Church 4280 Hopeful Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80917 Phone: 719-328-1793 Service Tuesday, October 18, 2011 2:00PM Lighthouse Baptist Church 4280 Hopeful Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80917 Phone: 719-328-1793