Theodore Edward (Ted) Stahl, age 91, passed away January 2, 2025, at his home in Iola, Kansas. Ted was born December 16, 1933, to Theodore and Ellen (Pidgeon) Stahl. To this union was also Jeri, an older sister, and a few years later, a brother, Robert, all born in St. Louis, Missouri.
They moved to Wentzville, Missouri, Ted’s junior year of high school, where he graduated in 1951. Ted dated his high school sweetheart, Marva Jean (Jean) Baker, and they were married in 1952. She was 16 and Ted was 18 and had already been in the Navy Reserve for two years.
Ted then joined the Air Force and they became a military family for the next 22 years, living in numerous places in the United States and abroad while raising nine children.
Their first daughter, Cynthia, was born in St. Charles, Missouri; the second daughter was born in Charleston, South Carolina; the first son, Theodore, and the second son, Michael, were both born in Denver, Colorado. The next two daughters, Martha and Catherine, were born in England. The next two sons were born in California. The last one, Joseph, was born in Taiwan.
Upon returning to the United States, and a few more moves, Ted was stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, Jacksonville, Arkansas. Since he had been taking college classes and needed a few more hours to graduate, he went to Parkville, Missouri, to finish his degree at Park College (now Park University) and graduated from there.
Ted retired from the Air Force in 1972 and the family moved to Washington, Missouri, except Cynthia, who had graduated high school and already had a career in music singing with a band.
Ted then began working for Kellwood, a company in St. Louis and retired from there after another 22 years.
All the children had already graduated in Washington and most were married or attending college, when Ted and Jean bought their retirement home at the Lake of the Ozarks, Camdenton, Missouri.
Ted began his next career as a deacon in the Catholic Church, but would need to drive to Jefferson City, Missouri, for classes for six years. During this time, his wife of 46 years was killed in a car wreck in 1997.
The next year, Norma Sager went to Camdenton to visit some mutual friends who happened to live next door to Ted, and they soon began dating. Ted and Norma were married in 1999. Norma had five grown children and Ted had nine children.
Ted was ordained in Camdenton by Bishop John Gaydos of the Jefferson City Diocese on September 29, 2001. There were many deacons in Missouri, but when Ted moved to Iola, Kansas, in 2007, he learned there is not a program in the Wichita Diocese for permanent deacons, so he was the only deacon in southeast Kansas.
Several very important family members passed away during the next few years. Both of Ted’s mothers-in-law, Wilena Arnold, Moran, Kansas, and Nadine Baker, Hominy, Oklahoma; his oldest daughter, Cynthia, died of colon cancer; his oldest step-son, Jim Sager, was killed in a car accident; his sister, Jeri, and her husband, Jack, and their son, Jimmie, Jonesburg, Missouri.
Survivors include Ted’s wife, Norma Sager Stahl, of the home; his brother, Bob (Connie) Stahl, Lake Whitney, Texas; his children, Ted (Joyce) Stahl and their four children; Debbie Sneed and her three children; Mike Stahl; Martha Stahl and her two sons; Catherine (Rick) Scheuber and their two sons; Edward (Ann) Stahl and their two children; Tom (Tami) Stahl and their son; Joe Stahl and his son; five step-children, Pam (Mike Schmitt) Sager, Debbie Sager, Jerry Sager, John Sager, Jeff (Flora) Sager; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Ted has 16 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 13 step-grandchildren, seven step-great-grandchildren, and one step-great-great-grandson.
Deacon Ted Stahl will be inurned with his first wife, Jean, at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.
A memorial service to be held in Iola, Kansas, is pending at this time.
Memorials are suggested to either St. John Catholic Church (Iola) or St. Joseph Catholic Church (Yates Center), and may be left with Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 1883 US Highway 54, Iola, Kansas.
Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbonfuneral.com.
