Karl Robert Stadler

Karl Robert Stadler passed away on March 26, 2026 in Mill Creek, Washington. He was born at the neighbor’s house in Alderwood Manor on July 29, 1932. Karl was the youngest of Emil and Katie Stadler’s eight children. He attended Alderwood Grade School and graduated from Edmonds High School in 1951. Karl served in the United States Marine Corp stationed in El Toro, California including a stint in Oahu, Hawaii.

On July 31, 1954 he married Marlene Elske of Marysville making their home in Alderwood Manor (Lynnwood) for thirty years before moving to Stanwood and then Conway. In 2021 they moved back to Lynnwood only a mile from their original home.

In 1958 Karl joined the Alderwood Manor volunteer fire department. This was the beginning of 38 years as member of Snohomish County Fire District #1. He delivered fuel for Ech’s Burner Oils until 1975 when he became a professional firefighter for District #1 retiring in 1996 as a captain. While living in Stanwood Karl volunteered with Snohomish County Fire District #14 as a firefighter, chief, and commissioner. After his move to Conway he served as a commissioner for Skagit County Fire District #3 from 2006 to 2012. Karl was known by many of his fellow firefighters as “Zeke.”

Karl was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene, his parents Emil and Katie Stadler and his siblings, Emil Stadler, Agnes Barnhill, Fred Stadler, Margaret Power, Elizabeth Wallace, Clara Bowman, and Dorothy Frohlich. He is survived by his daughter Cheri (Pat) Ryan, son Kevin Stadler, granddaughters Maggie (Daniel) Morris, Abbie (Will) Woodworth and great-granddaughter Jane Morris. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, most of them called him “Unckie.”

A Celebration of Life will be held in Karl’s honor at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 9th at the Edmonds Center of the Arts, 410-4th Ave N, Edmonds. It will be held in the gymnasium where Karl went to high school. If walls could only talk!

Donations in Karl’s name may be made to the Lynnwood-Alderwood Manor Heritage Association, P. O. Box 2206, Lynnwood, WA 98036.