KATIE P. STAHL obituary

Katie P. Stahl, 95, died the morning of Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at her home at the Gildford Colony.

She died peacefully with her loving family at her bedside. Funeral services will be at 10 a. m. Friday July 20, 2007, at the Gildford Colony Church. Burial will follow at the Gildford Colony Cemetery. Katie was born Sept. 1, 1911, at the Wolf Creek Colony near Menno, S.D., to the Rev. Josh Hofer and Elizabeth (Wipf) Hofer. On Jan. 29, 1933, she married Paul Stahl of New Wolf Creek Colony in Alberta. Katie served her community in many ways, including teaching kindergarten and elementary school and gardening. She greatly enjoyed knitting and generously gave away many items. As she became less active in later years, she spent her days reading and singing the Word of God. Her faith in the Lord remained very strong, even though she had complications with her eyes most of her life. She loved to tell stories about her childhood in South Dakota and she had an excellent memory about people, places, and history. Visitors brought a special joy to her and they usually learned through the course of the conversation that they were related to Grandma! Katie was preceded in death by her parents, four sons, Mike, Paul, Joshua, and Martin; six grandchildren, Sam, Tim, Joe, Dan, Joshua, and David; four great-grandchildren, Lawrence, Courtney, Dustin, and Sheldon; four brothers, Darius, Josh, Dave, and Joe; and three sisters, Annie, Susie, and Elizabeth. She is survived by her loving husband of 74 years, the Rev. Paul Stahl of Gildford Colony; five sons, Dave (Susie), the Rev. Paul (Katie), John (Sarah), Josh (Susie), George (Linda), and daughter-in-law Susanna, all of Gildford Colony; six daughters, Martha Stahl of Gildford Colony, Katie (Peter) Wipf of Lakeside Colony, Elizabeth (George) Hofer of Surprise Colony, and Annie (Ben), Susie ( the Rev. Paul P.), and Rebecca (John) Hofer, all of Elkwater Colony; 48 grandchildren; 88 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary (the Rev. Peter) Hofer of Wolf Creek Colony and Rebecca Stahl of Deerfield Colony; and many nephews and nieces. Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester