Obituary for Richard J Stallbaum
Our Dad, Richard James Stallbaum, spent the last days of his life on earth in his own home doing what he liked to do most– watching marine life and ships pass by, the sun set over the Olympic Mountains, and keeping his innermost thoughts mostly to himself. He passed on May 25, 2019.
Dad was born in Everett Washington in January 1924, the youngest child of German immigrants. He grew up on Rucker and went to Everett High School. Tall and blonde, with piercing blue eyes, he was the apple of everyone’s eye and apparently quite mischievous, walking & hitching rides to the town of Snohomish to visit a girl or two and narrowly missing a car crash that killed several of his best friends. In high school he was a member of the swim team, graduating in 1942.
In February of 1943 he went to Tacoma and enlisted in the US Army. Dad was a diver in England and France. Most of the details of his service went with him, but we know he wore the hard hat diving suit and that he was clearing harbors and doing salvage work overseas. Early in 1946, he was given a medical discharge and sent back to the USA.
In 1946, while carousing Cozy Corners Tavern in Clinton he met a local Langley gal named Janice Dahlman and it was love at first sight. They married November 9, 1946 and were married for 72 years until Mom’s death in May 2018. Janice was the love of his life (everything else came second) and nothing was ever the same for him after she was gone.
Richard graduated from University of Washington with a degree in Business and Economics in 1949. He and Janice lived in Edmonds and they had 3 children, Joy Anderson (Steve), Rick Stallbaum (Barbara) and Sydney Zenger. It was important to Dad that each of us learn at a young age to swim and row a boat, tie a few knots, bait a hook and dig clams. Our summers were spent North in the US and Canadian San Juan Islands.
Richard retired in his early 50’s and he and Janice moved back to Whidbey Island in 1977. They built a home on Mutiny Bay, became members of Useless Bay Golf & Country Club and traded the boating hobby for a golfing hobby. He and Mom had a great life.
In addition to his children, Richard leaves behind 7 grandchildren (Michaela, Megan, Caitlin, Jessica, Eric, Jennifer and Adam) and 5 great grandchildren (Harper, Milo, Austen, Teigen, and Mary).
Rest in peace Dad. Tell Mom we love her.
Arrangements have been made with the assistance of Whidbey Memorial Funeral and Cremation Service.
Dad was born in Everett Washington in January 1924, the youngest child of German immigrants. He grew up on Rucker and went to Everett High School. Tall and blonde, with piercing blue eyes, he was the apple of everyone’s eye and apparently quite mischievous, walking & hitching rides to the town of Snohomish to visit a girl or two and narrowly missing a car crash that killed several of his best friends. In high school he was a member of the swim team, graduating in 1942.
In February of 1943 he went to Tacoma and enlisted in the US Army. Dad was a diver in England and France. Most of the details of his service went with him, but we know he wore the hard hat diving suit and that he was clearing harbors and doing salvage work overseas. Early in 1946, he was given a medical discharge and sent back to the USA.
In 1946, while carousing Cozy Corners Tavern in Clinton he met a local Langley gal named Janice Dahlman and it was love at first sight. They married November 9, 1946 and were married for 72 years until Mom’s death in May 2018. Janice was the love of his life (everything else came second) and nothing was ever the same for him after she was gone.
Richard graduated from University of Washington with a degree in Business and Economics in 1949. He and Janice lived in Edmonds and they had 3 children, Joy Anderson (Steve), Rick Stallbaum (Barbara) and Sydney Zenger. It was important to Dad that each of us learn at a young age to swim and row a boat, tie a few knots, bait a hook and dig clams. Our summers were spent North in the US and Canadian San Juan Islands.
Richard retired in his early 50’s and he and Janice moved back to Whidbey Island in 1977. They built a home on Mutiny Bay, became members of Useless Bay Golf & Country Club and traded the boating hobby for a golfing hobby. He and Mom had a great life.
In addition to his children, Richard leaves behind 7 grandchildren (Michaela, Megan, Caitlin, Jessica, Eric, Jennifer and Adam) and 5 great grandchildren (Harper, Milo, Austen, Teigen, and Mary).
Rest in peace Dad. Tell Mom we love her.
Arrangements have been made with the assistance of Whidbey Memorial Funeral and Cremation Service.