Edward Alan Stahla, of Cozad, Nebraska, formerly of Sitka, died October 20 at Emerald Nursing & Rehab in Cozad. He was 82.
Ed was born on February 17, 1943, to August and Sarah (Martin) Stahla, in Kimball, Nebraska, and grew up the family farm. He played clarinet in the Kimball high school band and was on the wrestling team, when not working on the farm. After high school, he attended the University of Wyoming, earning a degree in arts and sciences in 1965 before going to law school. In 1968, he received his juris doctor of law degree from the University of Wyoming and went on to pass the state bars in both Nebraska and Alaska.
On September 6, 1965, he married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen A. Schwindt in the church in Kimball where they both grew up. (He often said that he married her after she graduated from nursing school so she could put him through law school!)
After he graduated from law school in 1968, he and Kathy packed up their daughter, Pamela, and moved to Ketchikan. In 1969 they welcomed their son, Scott, and in 1977 moved to Sitka where he would continue to practice law. He was president of both the Sitka Bar Association and the Alaska Bar Association.
He enjoyed being outdoors, hunting and fishing, and spent as much time as he could away from the law office on his boat, the SB Daiquiri, with family and friends.
The Stahlas moved back to Nebraska in 2004.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy, of Smithfield, Nebraska; daughter and spouse, Pamela Stahla-Kernin (Michael) of Sitka; grandchildren and their spouses, Marissa (Derek) Fairbanks of Oregon, Erik Stahla (Riley) of Oregon, Nichel Kernin (Chance Allen) of Sitka, and Alex (Samantha) of Petersburg; and great-grandchildren, Carmen, Colin, Parker, and Everett.
He is also survived by one remaining uncle, Ray Stahla and his wife, Dianne, of Colorado; siblings Betty Kibby of Kearney, Nebraska, and Byron Stahla (Jeanne) of Texas; and his sisters-in-law, Mary Stahla and Connie Schwindt.
Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
Besides his parents, Edward was preceded in death by his son, Scott; brother, Ron Stahla, and brothers-in-law Bob Kibby, Jim and Ron Schwindt.
A celebration of his life will be held 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4, at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington, Nebraska, with Joe Wilken officiating.
Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be extended to the family online by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.
