Edward John Stading

Jan. 20, 1966 – Sept. 3, 2018

Ed Stading died on Sept. 3, 2018 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer.

The father, husband, and Homer Police officer passed away after a valiant seven-month battle with kidney cancer. He was 52 years old.

Born in Spokane, Washington on Jan. 20, 1966, Ed’s life became one of travels. Part of a military family, he lived on two different continents until they returned to Spokane where he graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1985. Ed first came to Alaska in 1987 as a seasonal worker in Denali National Park and worked there for a decade of summers with the Denali Salmon Bake, Alaska Railroad and Denali Air Flightseeting Tours. In the off season he traveled as well as studied Criminal Justice at Spokane Community College, graduating with an associate degree in 1997. He later earned a bachelor of science in criminal justice from Columbia Southern University in 2014.

In 1997, he wed Robanne Phillips Stading of Fort Worth, Texas. They moved to Alaska permanently in November 1997 and he began his near 20-year career in law enforcement with the North Slope Borough Police Department in 1998, serving the people of the Arctic until 2005, when he joined the Homer Police Department. He served as a senior patrol officer, firearms instructor, and was one of the first trainers in the state for active shooter situations. A former DARE officer, he was named Alaska DARE Officer of the Year in 2007.

Ed viewed his career in law enforcement as a calling to serve the public with a compassionate heart. He defended the vulnerable, cared for the broken, and worked to insure public safety for the good people of Homer. He actively helped others in the community and donated his time to many organizations in Homer. He was particularly passionate about firearms and intended to continue teaching citizens about responsible gun ownership upon his retirement in 2019. He is especially known as a devoted father to his three children. He regularly stated, “I am but a humble servant of Jesus Christ” and strived to be an example of that for his children and community.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his beloved children, Clara, Alexander and Anastasia; his father, Lloyd J. Stading Sr.; his brothers, Lloyd Jr. Stading and Bill Stading; many uncles, aunts, cousins, two nephews, a niece and other in-laws.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Helen I. Stading.

A memorial service is on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Glacierview Baptist Church, 960 East End Road, Homer, where he served as a deacon. The service begins at 2 p.m. and is followed by a barbecue potluck at the church pavilion hosted by the Homer Friends of the NRA at 3:30 p.m. All are welcome.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ed Stading Memorial Missions Fund at Glacierview Baptist Church (online giving is available at www.glacierviewbaptist.org) or the Kidney Cancer Research Alliance at www.kccure.org.