It was a brisk and sunny 42 degrees on a December 1st morning when Kenneth Douglas Anderson was born into this world in 1949. On this day in Columbus, Nebraska, he was brought into the world by his mother Florence Lillian and father, George Basil. The fourth child born of five, Kenneth shared adventure with his brothers and sisters. Adventure took them all the way to Denver, Colorado where they settled down on their homestead in Lakewood. They stayed busy running the family radio business, KRKS.  Ken dreamed of California and the ocean calling to him. His love for all things Disney were solidified when he was a child and was able to visit Disneyland not long after the opening. The smell of the fresh paint and newly lit castle gleamed into his heart and sealed his fate to how he would live his life. His childhood was anything but normal, between fighting crime at night as the masked Trackman and helping his father work the radio station, he had to make sure his studies were a priority. He graduated from high school at Silver State Baptist in Lakewood and then received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rockmont College. It was during his college years that he met a fair young maiden who caught his eye and stole his heart. They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops. Ken and Amy were married on December 8th, 1973. After the birth of their three children, Kendra, Erin and Nicholas, Ken would instill his love of Disney into his children. Now it’s common knowledge that when we feel a calling, we must follow. He felt called to visit Disney on multiple occasions. Throughout their many road trips across the country the children would hear stories about Ken’s many encounters with Walt Disney, Bigfoot, the Lochness Monster and creatures from another world. When his children were grown, he continued to share his stories with his grandchildren who would eagerly listen with enchantment and awe. His pride and joys were his four grandchildren, Tristin, Isabella, Ash and Alexander. His eyes would light up anytime he was able to spend time with them and he loved watching them grow. His body grew weary and tired after his stroke in 2014 and following his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, he knew it was time to head home. All of his adventures had ended, at least for here on Earth, but he would still have adventure among the stars.

Kenneth was called home to be with our Lord and Savior on October 8th, 2021 at the age of 71 years old.

In telling the story of Kenneth’s life, it is impossible to separate fact from fiction or the man from the myth. When a man tells his stories so many times, he becomes his stories and they live on after him. I suppose if I had to choose between a truthful story of one’s life and an eccentric version, I would choose the latter wouldn’t you?

Kenneth is survived by his wife of 47 years, Amy Jo (whom Ken called Jo), his children, Kendra, Erin and Nicholas, his four grandchildren, Tristin, Isabella, Ash and Alexander, his son in law's, Jason and Jim, his sister Susan and brother Roger and his many nieces and nephews. He was welcomed into Heaven by those who have gone before him, his parents, George and Florence, his brother, Gordon, and his sister Jan.

We would like to conclude with how important it is to be open about discussing mental health and how it can seriously impact a family who’s loved one has schizoaffective disorder. Education and understanding are essential and we would never want anyone to suffer alone in silence. For more information and resources, please visit: https://www.nami.org.

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