STAEBLER, Kenneth Woodrow 1913-2003

STAEBLER, PORTER, WAIDELICH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/3/2009 at 21:00:03

TEMPLE CITY, Calif. - Kenneth Woodrow Staebler, age 89, died on November 3, 2003, at his home in Temple City, Calif. A memorial service was held on November 10, 2003, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Arcadia, Calif.

Ken was born December 3, 1913, in Floyd County. He was the youngest of six sons born to George W. and Geneva (Porter) Staebler. He graduated from Colwell High School in 1931. On January 20, 1934, he married Frances L. Waidelich at St. John Lutheran Church in Charles City. They made their home in Floyd County and Charles City until 1942, when they temporarily moved to Minneapolis with their four young children.

Ken, Frances and their children returned to Charles City in 1946 where Ken began a 22-year career with Farm Service Co-op. During these years, he was active in community and parenting activities. He especially enjoyed singing in the choir at St. John's as well as in the BelCanto Chorus.

In 1967, the Staeblers moved to California where three of their four children lived. Ken began a second career in facilities maintenance at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He retired in 1978, but remained very active in senior activities, assisting his sons in property management and, as always, being an outstanding husband, father, grandfather, friend and neighbor. During a long struggle with cancer, he participated as a patient in several medical research projects.

Mr. Staebler was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Frances, in 2000; daughter Bernita Lewis in 1985; their grandson, Kenneth, in 1996; and great-grandson, Jayson Clubb, in 2000. He is survived by two sons and their spouses, Roger and Jackie Staebler and Ron and Loretta Staebler of Arcadia, Calif.; and his daughter, Barbara, and her husband, Philip Boleng, who reside in Glen Rose, Texas. Mr. Staebler is also survived by eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Staebler's ashes will be returned to Charles City at the time of the family's annual reunion on the 4th of July, 2004. His final resting place will be with his wife and daughter at Sunnyside Memory Gardens.

Memorial donations may be made to the Kenneth Staebler Tourette Syndrome Camp, 532 Campesina Road, Arcadia, CA 91007, or to the City of Hope Cancer Research, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010.