Captain Kenneth Richard Nettles
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Capt. Kenneth Richard Nettles Obituary
Capt. Kenneth Richard Nettles, age 53, of Crestview, Florida, passed away Thursday, February 24, 2023. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama on July 23, 1969.
After moving to Destin, FL., he discovered his love of fishing. Many times, he would stay up all night fishing from the docks. He fished along the harbor, every day. When he was 11, he won his first Destin Rodeo Award for Junior Angler. He was following in his late grandfather, Stanley Boggan’s footsteps, who also won many Destin Fishing Rodeo awards. They fished on many of the same great deep-sea fishing boats.
Kenneth was an avid surfer, winning many surfing competitions, in the Gulf, on the East Coast of Florida, and in South America, from 1982 – 1987.
Capt. Ken’s boat, the “Strange Brew”, set a record in the 2012 Destin Fishing Rodeo, with an Amberjack, weighing in at 111.6 pounds. This record still stands today.
His greatest joy was being a successful Charter Boat Captain. His love of the Gulf of Mexico and nature was unfathomable. He loved problem-solving and building things. Kenneth could fix anything!
Kenneth turned out to be quite a chef, he could make an awesome Shrimp Scampi, Stuffed Grouper/Snapper Parmesan, as well as many other dishes. As a teenager, he burned the kitchen down twice, so we never saw that coming.
Kenneth’s ringtone was “Bad to the Bone”. We think that song was written for him.
Capt. Ken was a passionate supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities. He was a great advocate for rescue dogs, and he rescued many himself, giving them a loving home.
Capt. Kenneth Nettles, sometimes known as “Captain Crunch”, was “Bigger than Life”!!
His Heart of Gold will forever shine upon us!!
This is a poem written by longtime friend, Nick Petkovic, In Loving Memory of Captain Ken Nettles.
Watching the waves coming in one by one. Reminding us of her beauty and might.
Yet, somehow calms the mind and eases the soul the whispering voices of lost friends.
The calm after the storm somehow brings answers to our damaged hearts. The Gulf in her beauty gives rest to tired souls.
I came today to say goodbye. I will return from time to time to say hello.
As time goes on, the Gulf will hold our talks and memories.
Farewell my friend. You will always be by my side, when I see the Gulf. The place we call home.
He is survived by his wife: Kristi Nettles, of Crestview, FL, and their “fur babies”, Ginger, Tia, and Delta.
Parents: Walter R. Nettles and Faye Nettles of Miramar Beach, FL.
Brother/Sister: Bradley Ryan Nettles, Cheryl Denise Gracien
Aunt/Uncle: Karen Leigh Whited (Billy)
Nephews/Nieces: Gabriel David Gracien, Marleigh Faye Grecian
Great Nephew: Bridger Elijah Gracien
Great Niece: Emerson Leigh Gracien
Cousins: Nikki Lauren Whited, Taylor Leigh Mathews (Robert), Kelly Powell (Toby), and Mark Boggan.
He was preceded in death by:
Aunts/Uncles: Patricia Merchant, George Nettles, Evelyn Mitchell, and Dennis Boggan.
His “Fur Babies”, Brindle, Fisher, Cabo, Precious, and Bubbie.
In Lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to:
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida, a charity Ken supported for many years:
5200 Bayou Boulevard
Pensacola, Florida 32503
Florida Boxer Rescue, Inc. Ken rescued his white boxer, “Cabo” from here.
5753 Hwy 85 North
Crestview, Florida 32536
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