Ida C. Stadler

Ida C. Stadler

Ida Christina Stadler, March 10, 1918 to June 5, 2022. Ida was born near Watkins, Montana, on the family farm, to Jakob and Christina Kogele, and grew up in Prairie County, Montana with her many siblings. Brothers (all deceased) were Sam and Richard of Miles City, Montana, Wilbert of Broadus, Montana, Otto of Payson, Arizona and Melvin of Omaha, Nebraska. Sisters included Hodelia Lamers (deceased) of Monmouth, Oregon, and Martha Bradley and Anna Pauline Misfeldt both living in Billings, Montana. Two siblings, Magdeline and Jakob Jr. died in infancy.

Ida moved to Seattle and met Emil Stadler who grew up there. In 1946, after marriage to Emil she moved to Alaska where she would live the rest of her life of 104 years. She especially loved to look at the beautiful mountains around Palmer. Emil bought an airplane shortly after they moved to Alaska, and though it was used to get to some of the mines they worked at (there were almost no roads then!) they also used it to go fishing, hunting and berry picking, which Ida turned into delicious meals. For several years Ida and Emil worked at several mines with Emil working in the mine and Ida cooking for the crew. Mines they worked include the Independence Mine, the Fern Mine, and the Jones Coal Mine.

In Palmer they built a house in the 1950’s and Ida worked at Koslosky’s Department store (in Palmer) for 23 years as a bookkeeper, after attending college to learn the necessary skills.

In the early 1980’s they built a house on Niklason Lake, near Palmer. In 1997 Ida and Emil moved to Colony Estates in Palmer. Emil passed away in 2006, and Ida continued to live in the apartment until she was 101, when friends and family convinced her to move in the Alaska Veterans and Pioneer Home in Palmer, where she knew many people. She lived there until her passing.

Though Ida and Emil had no children, they raised Jack Hamilton (stepson of an uncle) from a very young age to age 18 when he joined the military. Ida is survived by Jack Hamilton and wife Paula of Colorado, and numerous nieces and nephews, and her sisters Anna and Martha in Billings, Montana.

Ida enjoyed playing cards, particularly pinochle and scrabble. She liked to embroider and do cross-stitching. Ida and Emil were both superb gardeners, and enjoyed producing huge amounts of produce which was given away freely.

Interment was at Fort Richardson, next to Emil. There will be a celebration of life on July 11, 2022 at the Alaska Veterans and Pioneer Home, 250 East Fireweed Ave., Palmer, at 10:30 AM, sponsored by Pioneers of Alaska, of which Ida was a member.