Kenneth Alden Stika1,2 
M, (21 December 1948 - 9 July 2012)
Kenneth Alden Stika was born on 21 December 1948 at Manti, Sanpete County, Utah.3 He was the son of Laurance Jay Stika and Donna Adelia Perkins.3 Kenneth Alden Stika first married, at age 19, Judy Ann Mayne on Friday, 4 October 1968 at Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California.3 Kenneth Alden Stika and Judy Ann Mayne were divorced in July 1976 at Sacramento, Sacramento County, California. Kenneth Alden Stika married a second time, at age 29, Patricia Lee Scholder, daughter of Emery Lee Scholder and Pauline Zuvich, on Tuesday, 7 November 1978 at Dutch Harbor (Unalaska), Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska.1,2,3 Kenneth Alden Stika died on 9 July 2012 at Springville, Utah County, Utah, at age 63 years, 6 months and 18 days.3 He was buried on 16 July 2012 in the Evergreen Cemetery, located in Springville, Utah County, Utah.3
His obituary was published on 15 July 2012 in the Daily Herald, printed in Provo, Utah County, Utah. His obituary stated:
Kenneth Alden Stika 1948 ~ 2012
Kenneth Alden Stika, founder of The Great Salt Lake Guitar Company, passed away Monday, July 9, 2012 in Springville.
He was born in Manti, Utah, to Kenneth E. Miller and Donna Adelia Perkins on December 21, 1948 and was later adopted by Laurance Jay Stika.
He married Patricia Lee Scholder on November 7, 1978 in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
Ken joined the Navy shortly after his 17th birthday and served in Vietnam. He was a crewmember aboard both the U.S.S. Caliente and the U.S. S. Munsee. After his service, he worked as an auto mechanic, raced sports cars in southern California, and dredged for gold in northern California.
He attended the Glen Fishback School of Photography in Sacramento and became an architectural photographer.
He moved to Gresham, Oregon in 1978, where he met his wife Pat on a mountain top. Together they went to Alaska to fish for king crab out of Dutch Harbor. They moved to Utah in 1979 and Ken started building folk instruments such as mountain dulcimers, hammered dulcimers, bowed psalteries, hummels, and citterns.
As interest in his instruments grew, he founded the Great Salt Lake Guitar Company in Provo and settled into guitar building. As a luthier, Ken's instruments had a reputation for their superb sound, fine craftsmanship, and aesthetic appeal. As a businessman, Ken was known for his fairness, compassion, and enthusiasm. He loved Mondays, and was passionate about his work. In 1988, he moved his business to its current location on Center Street in the old Bee Hardware Building. His son, Reo Stika, also a luthier, owns the business now.
As a family man, Ken was a wonderful father and husband, and really came into his own once the grandchildren came along.
He enjoyed hiking in southern Utah and knew the back roads and canyons of the San Rafael Swell very well. He and Pat survived a flash flood in Ding and Dang canyon in the summer of 2010. He was thrilled when he became a senior and got his lifetime National Parks pass. He loved observing the stars at night, watching meteor showers, and knew enough facts about the universe and cosmos to keep everyone mesmerized.
He enjoyed cats and his kitty, Miss Muffet, misses him dearly.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Ken was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in August of 2011 and lived well beyond his prognosis. His strong will and overwhelming sense of peace concerning the illness were a blessing to all around him.
He made his goal of being here for the birth of his latest grandson just two weeks ago. He is survived by his dad, Larry Stika; sons Lawrence and Benjamin Gibson from a previous marriage to Judy Ann Mayne; his wife, Pat; sons Josh (Laura) of Draper; Reo (Liz) of Provo; Casey (Kiara) of Orem; daughter Kelly Rose (David)of Springville; grandchildren Lucas, Mason, Jack, Noah, Jill, Clara, Rowan, Kai, Jesse, Benjamin, and Elliot.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Donna Terrell; his father, Kenneth Miller and wife Lila Miller; his brothers Michael Stika and Darren Miller, and sister Lila Jo Miller.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 16 at 10:30 am at the Center Street Chapel in Springville, 355 East Center Street. Friends and family may visit at 9 am prior to the service. Burial will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery with military rites. There will be a musical gathering and celebration of life that evening from 5 - 8pm at The Great Salt Lake Guitar Co., 362 West Center St., Provo. Condolences may be sent at www.wheelermortuary.com.3
His obituary was published on 15 July 2012 in the Daily Herald, printed in Provo, Utah County, Utah. His obituary stated:
Kenneth Alden Stika 1948 ~ 2012
Kenneth Alden Stika, founder of The Great Salt Lake Guitar Company, passed away Monday, July 9, 2012 in Springville.
He was born in Manti, Utah, to Kenneth E. Miller and Donna Adelia Perkins on December 21, 1948 and was later adopted by Laurance Jay Stika.
He married Patricia Lee Scholder on November 7, 1978 in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
Ken joined the Navy shortly after his 17th birthday and served in Vietnam. He was a crewmember aboard both the U.S.S. Caliente and the U.S. S. Munsee. After his service, he worked as an auto mechanic, raced sports cars in southern California, and dredged for gold in northern California.
He attended the Glen Fishback School of Photography in Sacramento and became an architectural photographer.
He moved to Gresham, Oregon in 1978, where he met his wife Pat on a mountain top. Together they went to Alaska to fish for king crab out of Dutch Harbor. They moved to Utah in 1979 and Ken started building folk instruments such as mountain dulcimers, hammered dulcimers, bowed psalteries, hummels, and citterns.
As interest in his instruments grew, he founded the Great Salt Lake Guitar Company in Provo and settled into guitar building. As a luthier, Ken's instruments had a reputation for their superb sound, fine craftsmanship, and aesthetic appeal. As a businessman, Ken was known for his fairness, compassion, and enthusiasm. He loved Mondays, and was passionate about his work. In 1988, he moved his business to its current location on Center Street in the old Bee Hardware Building. His son, Reo Stika, also a luthier, owns the business now.
As a family man, Ken was a wonderful father and husband, and really came into his own once the grandchildren came along.
He enjoyed hiking in southern Utah and knew the back roads and canyons of the San Rafael Swell very well. He and Pat survived a flash flood in Ding and Dang canyon in the summer of 2010. He was thrilled when he became a senior and got his lifetime National Parks pass. He loved observing the stars at night, watching meteor showers, and knew enough facts about the universe and cosmos to keep everyone mesmerized.
He enjoyed cats and his kitty, Miss Muffet, misses him dearly.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Ken was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in August of 2011 and lived well beyond his prognosis. His strong will and overwhelming sense of peace concerning the illness were a blessing to all around him.
He made his goal of being here for the birth of his latest grandson just two weeks ago. He is survived by his dad, Larry Stika; sons Lawrence and Benjamin Gibson from a previous marriage to Judy Ann Mayne; his wife, Pat; sons Josh (Laura) of Draper; Reo (Liz) of Provo; Casey (Kiara) of Orem; daughter Kelly Rose (David)of Springville; grandchildren Lucas, Mason, Jack, Noah, Jill, Clara, Rowan, Kai, Jesse, Benjamin, and Elliot.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Donna Terrell; his father, Kenneth Miller and wife Lila Miller; his brothers Michael Stika and Darren Miller, and sister Lila Jo Miller.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 16 at 10:30 am at the Center Street Chapel in Springville, 355 East Center Street. Friends and family may visit at 9 am prior to the service. Burial will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery with military rites. There will be a musical gathering and celebration of life that evening from 5 - 8pm at The Great Salt Lake Guitar Co., 362 West Center St., Provo. Condolences may be sent at www.wheelermortuary.com.3
Children of Kenneth Alden Stika and Patricia Lee Scholder
Last Edited=7 Feb 2013
Citations
- [S1416] "Emery Lee Scholder obituary," The San Diego Union-Tribune (San Diego, California), 28 July 2002, p. B-8; NewsBank subscription database (http://infoweb.newsbank.com), America's Obituaries & Death Notices by NewsBank, Record No. UTS1679567. Accessed 8 January 2008.
- [S1384] "Pauline Zuvich Scholder obituary," The San Diego Union-Tribune (San Diego, California), 26 April 2005, p. B-5; NewsBank subscription database (http://infoweb.newsbank.com), America's Obituaries & Death Notices by NewsBank, Record No. UTS1875871. Accessed 8 December 2007.
- [S2300] "Kenneth Alden Stika obituary," Daily Herald (Provo, Utah), 15 July 2012, n. p.; NewsBank subscription database (http://infoweb.newsbank.com), America's Obituaries & Death Notices by NewsBank, Record No. ae3e82a194705444233df177fa3ba98cbb3bc371. Accessed 7 February 2013.