Charlie Stadeli, 83, went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 18, surrounded by his family. He was born in Silverton on Dec. 9, 1930 to Rudolph and Minnie Gehring Stadeli. He was the fourth of five children. He attended Silverton schools and went to work for the family well drilling business, R. Stadeli & Sons, founded by his father in 1923. After several years in the family business, Charlie started West Coast Drilling. His sons followed him into the family business and later took over the business. In 1949, Charlie became a charter member of the Oregon Drilling Association and remained a lifetime member. He drove log truck and ended his career selling real estate in the Silverton area.
In 1950, Charlie married Verna Kaufman. They raised 13 children. They celebrated 50 years of marriage a few months before Verna died of cancer in 2001. He married Nancy Hogg in 2003.
Charlie will be missed by all who knew and loved him, and remembered fondly for his love of the Lord, his family and music. He was a cowboy at heart, who enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, camping with his family, and particularly the annual hunting trips with his sons where he always enjoyed doing the packing with the horses and serving as the camp cook.
He had a lifelong love of music, particularly old country, bluegrass and gospel hymns. He taught himself to play the harmonica and accordion and spent many hours playing and singing with his children. A faithful member of the Labish Center Community Church, he also was a member and chaplain of the Gideons for many years and had a passion for distributing Bibles, and making sure everyone knew about the Lord.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Verna, and his grandson Bradley George Jensen. He is survived by his wife Nancy; his sons: Charles Jr., Byron (Cathy), Dan (Jennifer), and Robert (Della) all of Silverton; Steve (Karen) of Molalla, and John (Dawn) of Newberg; daughters: Bonnie Miller, Norma (Eric) Stroup, Ann (Carl Jr.) Jensen, and Caroline (Hank) Meyer all of Silverton; Marilyn (James) Annen of Mount Angel, Corinne Stadeli of Salem, and Mary (Matt) Primbs of McMinnville, 38 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, stepdaughters Regina Hogg and Renee Strickland, six step grandchildren, two step great-grandchildren, brothers Paul, Otto, and Norman Stadeli and sister Violet Kuenzi.
Services were held in late January. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Gideons International, PO Box 17786, Salem, OR 97305.
