Contributions to the tribute of Wilfred Stahle

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

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The family of Wilfred Stahle uploaded a photo

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

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Dawn Haussler posted a condolence

Thursday, July 7, 2011

I often referred to Wilfred Stahle as "my Grandpa". I would even catch myself saying this in the company of my siblings and cousins for whom he was also their Grandpa, but in a different sense of the word; hence, the "my" in front. I apologize for the "my," but it was my way of emphasizing that he was more than a Grandpa to me. He was my dad when he needed to be and my rock in times of trouble. He and Grandma Ada gave me opportunities they weren't able to provide for their own five children. I am forever grateful for their generosity and will now honour both their memories in the way I live my life with my husband Reiner. They taught me to be responsible and to consider the needs of others. I always wanted to do well in school and sports to make them proud of me, and for them to know that all of their efforts were not in vain. They also taught me the importance of family. Growing up, Christmas at our house was always the best time of the year. The whole family was together to celebrate the season and another birthday for me. I was quite a shy person growing up, maybe because they tried to protect me and knew how fragile I could be if there were any upsets in my life. The biggest upset came on February 18, 1989 with the loss of "my Grandma". I felt a little uneasy with the thought of her not being in my life anymore, and how I was going to manage sharing a household with a Grandpa that, at times, could be difficult and hard to get close to. As he and Grandma made a promise to raise me, I promised him that I would be there for him always. In the early days after her passing, I tried to fill her shoes, but soon realized that with a full-time job, this would not be possible. Grandpa stepped in and asked me to teach him to do the laundry. All the time we were together, people knew better than to pay a visit on Mondays, laundry day. He also undertook doing the dinner dishes the next morning after making his breakfast, and even tried his hand at cooking, with leek soup being his specialty. Grandma would have been so proud. As I had promised my Grandpa to take care of the household, I took very little time for myself. I dated a few times in the early 1990s, but with the unexpected death of my friend Walter in 1992, I decided that I needed to grow some more before I was ready for another relationship. Sometimes I felt like I was married to my Grandpa and didn't have room in my life for another man. That started to change with the addition of 2 male feline friends in our lives, BJ and Kato. Grandpa wasn't a big cat person, but I had always wanted a pet so he agreed that I could keep them. Along with the lessons that I learned from my grandparents, "my boys" taught me so much about unconditional love. It was because of them that I could begin to tell my Grandpa and those I cared about that I loved them. At first, Grandpa didn't believe that I could love him, or that he was even lovable. I think he had trouble separating the love he had for Ada with the love of his family and friends. I just kept telling him that I loved him and he often replied "do you really"? I think in his final days, he finally realized that he was loved. I enjoyed my years up at the cottages at Queenie and Naiscoot and was very disappointed when they were sold, but the memories created up north will live with me forever. The fact that Grandpa wanted to move in 1997 so he could have a pool table showed me that you could still have dreams even at the age of 89. He often commented that he wished Grandma was alive to enjoy the new house. At the end of 2004, I questioned how long I could put my Grandpa's needs ahead of my own. I decided to try dating again after a 13-year absence. I know Grandpa felt threatened, and at times I felt that I had to choose between him and Reiner. Reiner didn't make me choose. I knew he was the man for me because he understood how important my grandparents were to me and that I would always have an obligation to Grandpa until the day he died. Shortly after we started dating, Grandpa said to me that he didn't think we would be together much longer. I don't know if he thought he was dying then, or just knew that I had found my soul mate and that both our lives would be forever changed, but in a good way. Grandpa had a hard time adjusting to life at the retirement home, but as our wedding and his 100th birthday approached, he was like a prize fighter getting in shape for the big events. He faithfully did his exercises in the hall to get ready for these 2 big occasions. I was so proud of him on our wedding day. When I got to the end of the aisle to kiss him, I was trembling and almost broke down in tears. I felt that I had forever changed his life, but knew that I would continue to do my utmost to make him feel appreciated. His 100th birthday celebrations were a gift to our family. Grandpa, you did it and you should feel very proud. The last few months have been a struggle, but I am thankful to my grandparents for getting me to this stage of my life. I would also like to thank my family and friends for their support over the years, and to Reiner for his unconditional love for me and his concern for the welfare of "my" Grandpa.

In loving memory of

Wilfred

1908 - 2008