Kenneth Eugene Stoltz

Kenneth Eugene Stoltz (Ken), age 67, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 13th, 2018, surrounded by his family at home after a two-year battle with brain cancer. He was born on February 11th, 1951, in Pasadena, California – the second of seven children.

Ken spent his college years trying out not one, but seven, different colleges before he found his favorite – traveling the world on Chapman World Campus Afloat. He had so much fun exploring the world that he forgot to study and left that school on academic probation. Ken eventually earned his Bachelor’s degree in English from Northern Arizona University.

At NAU, it was love at first sight when Ken first laid eyes on Terry Ronan. They were married not long after they met at the young age of 20 (Terry) and 22 (Ken). They moved to Idaho in 1978, and Ken started his first advertising agency in Pocatello, that later expanded to Boise. By the 1990s, Steele, Stoltz & Associates had grown into the largest agency in the state. In 1997, Ken opened his second company, Stoltz Marketing Group, and built a company that gave him immense personal satisfaction, as well as a large roster of clients and employees that became dear friends.

Ken was an avid fly fisherman, a phenomenal skier, a voracious reader, a talented business man, and the life of every party, but above all else, he was a family man. He took his family on so many trips of a lifetime – from camping in the Sawtooth Mountains to sailing in the Sea of Cortez to Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda, and beyond. He was thrilled to become a grandpa in 2014 and welcomed five grandkids over the last four years. Ken was happiest fly-fishing on a river or the saltwater flats with his tightknit group of fishing buddies. He continued to go to work almost every day throughout his two-year illness, and even seemed to forget that he had always hated Mondays.

Ken leaves behind his wife of nearly 45 years Terry; his son Brian and daughter-in-law Claire and their children Griffin and Mac; his daughter Jaime and son-in-law Anthony and their children Camille and Hailey; and his daughter Ashley and son-in-law Joe and their son Teddy; and many, many great friends, nieces, nephews, cousins, and siblings.

The family would like to send a special thank you to the large team of doctors and nurses at St. Luke’s that did everything possible to extend Ken’s time on this earth and provided such great and compassionate care. This team includes Dr. Steven Smith, Dr. Edward Duckworth, Dr. Norm Zuckerman, Shayna, and Danny. He was also treated by a fantastic team at UCSF led by Dr. Jennie Taylor and Dr. Edward Chang. We are so grateful to you all.

A private family service will be held on Sunday, June 24th. Following the service, please join us for a celebration of his life at Crane Creek Country Club from 3pm-6pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Ken’s name to the American Brain Tumor Association.